Charles “CJ” Kidd of Hellertown is a member of the U.S. Army and will be a resident in neurology at Walter Reed National Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.
In a nail-biting letter-opening ceremony at precisely noon Friday, Temple/St. Luke’s medical school students learned their fate–that is, to which medical residency programs across the country they have been paired. Known as National Match Day, it’s the day when fourth-year medical students across the country take a major step in their academic journey to become a physician.
“National Match Day is an unforgettable milestone for every medical student across the country,” said Joel Rosenfeld, MD, M.Ed, FACS, Chief Academic Officer, St. Luke’s University Health Network and Senior Associate Dean and Professor of Surgery, Lewis Katz School of Medicine. “The Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University/St. Luke’s University Health Network (Temple/St. Luke’s) is proud to have trained its graduating class of 2018, and we are extremely pleased to see our students moving on to some of the most highly regarded residency programs in the nation, including St. Luke’s.”
Dedicated to advancing medical education, St. Luke’s is a major teaching hospital–the only one in the Greater Lehigh Valley to be designated as a 100 Top Hospital by IBM Watson Health. In partnership with Temple University, St. Luke’s created the region’s first and only regional medical school campus. It also operates the nation’s longest continuously operating School of Nursing, established in 1884, and has 28 fully accredited graduate medical educational programs with 226 residents and fellows.
Collectively, St. Luke’s various education programs serve as a critical source of medical talent for the Lehigh Valley, helping the region’s hospitals to be staffed despite a nationwide physician shortage.
Unlike other students, CJ Kidd of Hellertown knew before Match Day where he was headed–to the Walter Reed National Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. That’s because he attended medical school on an Army scholarship, and in return he owes four years of service to Uncle Sam. CJ said he was drawn to the Army partly by patriotism, and partly by a sense of adventure. He knows that as an Army doctor he can expect to serve at least one or two tours of duty overseas. His girlfriend, Yamini, is a fellow medical student.
In total, 29 Temple/St. Luke’s Medical School students matched Friday to residency programs throughout the country, including St. Luke’s.
“I’m thrilled that many have chosen to stay here at St. Luke’s. I’m excited for all of them–today is a tribute to the students’ hard work over the past four years and to the excellent teaching, advice and counsel of our faculty,” Dr. Rosenfeld said.
After attending St. Luke’s medical school on an Army scholarship, Charles “CJ” Kidd of Hellertown will be doing his residency in neurology at Walter Reed National Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.
CJ said he was drawn to St. Luke’s, his hometown hospital, because he was well aware of its reputation for overall excellence. At St. Luke’s, he said, he enjoyed small class sizes and personal relationships with faculty.
“My rotations here have all been great,” he said.
“I’m just so delighted after working with these students the past four years that they are well-placed with residency programs, and I look forward to seeing their growth into excellent, well-trained physicians,” Dr. Rosenfeld said. “Of those who leave us for their residencies, some will in just a few years return to the Lehigh Valley, infusing the region with new medical expertise that will improve the overall health of our community.”
The 2018 Temple/St. Luke’s class will graduate May 14 at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia. The medical school will welcome the incoming Class of 2022 in August for its White Coat Ceremony.
For more information about Temple/St. Luke’s, please visit www.temple-stlukes.slhn.org and for other graduate medical education programs at St. Luke’s University Health Network, please visit gme.sluhn.org.
Note: This story was contributed by St. Luke’s University Health Network. Its publication is part of a health news partnership between Saucon Source and SLUHN.
