Match Day: One Day and One Dramatic Year in the Lives of Three New Doctors

Brian Eule is a writer and the woman he loves, Stephanie Chao, is a doctor. In "Match Day," Eule describes the anticipation of medical students who, like Stephanie, nervously look forward to the third Thursday in March when they will learn the name of the hospital to which they have been matched for residency training. The coming year, internship, will be "a trial of sleepless nights, beeping pagers, and demanding senior physicians." Every student across the country waits until the same exact moment to open up the envelope that will determine his or her fate. In addition to Stephanie, Eule focuses on two other women: Rakhi Barkowski, who is planning to specialize in internal medicine, and Michelle LaFonda, who wants to become a radiologist. As we get to know Stephanie, Rakhi, and Michelle, along with the men in their lives, we gain an appreciation of the many sacrifices that doctors-in-training and their partners make in order to balance demanding careers and personal relationships. Eule points out that a growing number of women are applying to medical school and this new crop of females is, on the whole, more self-confident, ambitious, and assertive than their predecessors. Some want to have it all: a fulfilling professional life, a loving partner, and if possible, children. Unfortunately, with the hours that many residents spend on call, achieving these goals may be a pipe dream. The author's extensive research and his breezy, conversational writing style make this an entertaining, informative, and fast-paced look at a fascinating subject. As we accompany Stephanie, Rakhi, and Michelle from Match Day through their intern year, we gain an insider's look at the pressures and anxieties that make a new doctor's life both hellish and exhilarating. Some interns are so exhausted that they find themselves falling asleep behind the wheel when they drive to and from the hospital. They eat intermittently and neglect their own health while they scramble to oversee the patients assigned to them. Within months, however, most start learning the ropes, settle into a routine, and gradually feel more secure in their abilities. The author adds his voice to those who question the wisdom of forcing doctors to work such a grueling schedule. He lists both the pros ("the weak are toughened, hospitals get the help they need at a cheap price, and new doctors are initiated into the world of medicine") and cons (fatigue, an increase in the likelihood of medical errors, inability to enjoy time away from the job) of a long and taxing work week. He also wonders whether there should be more reforms like the Libby Zion law that theoretically forbids doctors from putting in more than eighty hours per week. The bottom line is that no sane person goes into medicine for the money. With the overwhelming debt that he or she incurs in medical school, years pass before most physicians see a profit on their investment. We can only hope that the hardy souls who

Similar in style to a John McPhee book, Match Day is a welcome read for anyone who enjoys journalistic narratives intertwined with non-fiction character development and storylines. Eule successfully interweaves and juxtaposes factual and historical information about the "Match" against its ramifications on the lives of three central characters and their loved ones. The three young female doctors preparing for their transition from medical school into residency present a nice cross-section of the challenges facing women going through the Match. These include balancing career, family, and love. While the lives of young doctors have been pretty well described in the public forum by now, it is to Eule's credit that the storylines maintain their narrative impact as both telling and engaging. In part, I think this is due to Eule's personal investment in the project (his then girlfriend and now wife is one of the characters), and his writing style which effectively transitions between personal storytelling and more traditional journalistic narratives thoughout the book. The results are an informative book interspersed with touching vignettes of how life continues in the face of a challenging career. In addition, his focus on the unique challenges facing women who wish to become doctors also adds a welcome depth of understanding. I definitely recommend this book for those who like good storytelling and character-driven nonfiction, and I hope that a follow-up book to "Match Day" is forthcoming in a few years. I would love to hear more about where these three successful and talented women end up to see how much the Match, and medicine, have affected the course of their lives.

Eule presents a well written narrative of the lives and loves for three young residents offering advice and insight on how to balance careers and relationships. His beautifully crafted story is a must-read for all, not just those on their way to becomming doctors. Life and love lessons can be applied to all young women striving to advance their careers, strengthen their personal relationships and lead happy and healthy lives.

Beautiful and touching, could not put it down. Learning about the lives of young people in the medical field always interest me but this author gets behind the scenes, into the feelings and motivations of three female medical interns, especially around that complex "match day". A journalist, rather than a doctor, following these lives gives us an extraordinary viewpoint particularly concerning the effects of impossibly long hours, strains on relationships and families, and the incredible commitment to medicine it takes to succeed and become a "healer".

As the wife of a resident I appreciated the time spent with residents and their significant others in this book. The background on how the match came about, and the statistic about residency itself were really interesting. It is a fascinating insider take on what happens during the Match and after. I think that every family member and friend of a medical student should read this.