CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM The University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine held its annual "Match Day" yesterday, where 64 seniors learned where they would perform their residencies. Chelsea Walker, left, and mother Sherry learned she would stay in Hawaii to do her residency in family medicine -- but first, she is getting married tomorrow.

Medical students unseal their futures

Cheers and screams of joys filled the auditorium of the new University of Hawaii School of Medicine in Kakaako yesterday as 64 seniors learned the next step in their medical careers.

It was "Match Day" nationally, with 15,000 graduates of medical schools opening envelopes with results of their choices for residency positions.

A computerized National Residency Match Program matches students' choices with residency programs in teaching hospitals.

Envelopes were handed out individually, but Dr. Mary Ann Antonelli, dean of students, asked the students to wait until they could open them all at once.

"It's the ultimate in patience and strength," she said.

She barely got the words out to "start opening your envelopes" when the squealing and hugging began.

CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM Jill Ono and Jay Tokeshi took an advance peek at their envelopes. Ono is bound for Massachusetts General to pursue pathology and Tokeshi is headed for Virginia Mason in Seattle to study anesthesia.

Her residency is in obstetrics-gynecology, and she said high malpractice insurance premiums in that field do not faze her. "If I was in it to make money, I wouldn't be in medicine," she said.

Her husband, Marcello, is a structural engineer who transferred here from a company in Loma Linda and will go back to his job there, she said.

Kelly Nagasawa had hoped for a residency in surgery at the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic but was happy to get UH as his second choice. "It's easier on the family," said his wife, Lorien, holding their 4-month-old son, Landen.

Catherine Simonovich is one of 32 students staying at UH as their first choice. She is going into family medicine and said she was delighted because her two best friends also will be at UH with psychiatry residencies.

"A lot of people want to stay here and do primary care," said Chelsea Walker, also choosing UH for a family medicine residency. "The programs here are good and very competitive. In my class, everyone wanted to stay."

Antonelli said there is some concern that more UH students are not choosing a full surgery residency. But like graduates nationally, they are pursuing careers in highly competitive specialties, such as anesthesia and dermatology. Internal medicine and primary care are popular career interests.