The Match

So, the results are in; I will be spending my intern year in a transitional program here at Emory, then on to University of Washington in Seattle for 3 years of anesthesiology training.

I've been processing this news ever since Thursday and I think it's slowly starting to settle in. In the first few moments after opening the letter and reading where I'd been "matched," I felt a bit confused and somewhat disappointed and sad. I had been trying to stay here in Atlanta for all 4 years for a number of reasons: Kyle could keep his job and continue to coach Ultimate for the Paideia girls, we could keep our house, and we'd be near Beth and Steve. Not to mention, with a baby on the way, the fewer disruptions we have in life, the better. I felt immediately sad that we're moving away from Beth and Steve and overwhelmed by what that means for raising a child.

As moments passed, I started remembering how much I liked the program in Seattle. I hit it off really well with my interviewers and felt like I "fit" there. Additionally, it's known to be one of the top 10 programs in the country, a reputation that Emory does not have. So, from a professional standpoint, this match result is awesome.

I also thought about how much fun Kyle and I had while visiting there. Before we knew we were pregnant, we discussed ranking it first. Thankfully, Kyle is amazingly supportive and thoughtful. The night before the Match, he said to me, "You know, if we end up in Seattle, it's going to be really cool." I guess we're trading stability and predictability for adventure and exploration. It reminds me of how I felt when I was 21, moving out to Colorado in a station wagon with all of my belongings-- excited and a little apprehensive, but optimistic!

The other fortunate aspect of the match is that I'll be here in Atlanta for the next year. This gives Kyle and I plenty of time to navigate the various logistics of moving (finding a job for Kyle, selling the house, packing, relocating cross-country). The transitional year program is also a blessing in and of itself. Every anesthesiology resident is required to complete an intern year; it can be in medicine, surgery, or a so-called "transitional year." The transitional year program gives me a little bit of everything: a few months of ward medicine, some critical care, emergency medicine, a number of electives and a schedule that is not nearly as demanding as some of the other options (i.e. a year of surgery).

All in all, I feel extremely thankful for the match results and am ready to look toward the future with excitement!