Ahead of this year’s Match Day, held March 15, we’ll be sharing a series of member profiles of PGY-1 residents who matched into family medicine in Texas in 2023. Whether you were in the inaugural class of the National Residency Matching Program’s Match in 1952, or plan to match into family medicine in the next few years, the excitement of Match Day is contagious and undeniable. It’s a day of inspiring and emotional anticipation and exhilaration and something we look forward to every year. Watch TAFP spaces for upcoming Match Day coverage.
Jeremy Aymard, MD
PGY-1, JPS Family Medicine Residency Program
What was your Match Day 2023 experience?
At UT Southwestern, we did a countdown in our gym together as a class. My wife Maddie, my mom and dad, and my in-laws were with me and celebrated the special moment with me. The feeling after opening the envelope was a mix of joy, relief, and anxiety as the next chapter became real.
Do any specific moments stick out for you a year later?
I can replay the whole day in my mind! I was so happy to be able to spend time with my family. My in-laws had a JPS cake made for me, which took about two weeks of preparation. They told me that if I didn’t match at JPS, they would’ve never told me about it. I was really excited to see who my new co-residents would be, and we started a group chat immediately and began connecting.
Tell us a few of your favorite experiences from your first year as a resident.
Training here at JPS is a blast; there is never a dull moment. One of my favorite experiences has been our weekly didactics, where our class gets a break from our clinical duties and comes together for some friendly competition – we do “Mystery Cases.” We also get to catch up on life and learn from our incredible faculty. I have also loved having my own patients in my continuity clinic, Family Health Center. Eight months in, and I feel like I’ve already met so many people around the hospital; this place feels like home.
What advice would you give to students who are currently waiting to find out where they match?
The wait is painful, but it will be here before you know it. Then you immediately want to start, and there’s more waiting! But like many people say, take advantage of this time to recharge. Spend time with loved ones. Talk to other MS4s who are also anxiously anticipating Match Day so you can commiserate together!
What about students who have not yet begun the Match process?
Think about which specialty would make you happiest and most fulfilled, regardless of prestige or what others want you to be. Be true to yourself. It’s easy to get fixated on the end goal, but take moments to stop and reflect on all the blessings you have right now. Think about how far you’ve come. Be kind to yourself.
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