A Message from President Riley
By Office of the President | Mar 25, 2025
Match Day: A Celebration of Service, Commitment, and Community
Dear Downstate Community,
Every year, Match Day—coordinated by the National Resident Matching Program, which connects medical school graduates to residency training—brings a whirlwind of emotions: anticipation, excitement, joy, and even a few nerves that I remember well.
I was proud to celebrate Match Day 2025 with our exceptional graduating students. This year, 170 College of Medicine Class of 2025 members learned where they will begin their residency training, their choices reflecting a clear sense of purpose.
Nearly 80 percent will stay in New York State, continuing to serve the communities that shaped their education. Over 30 matched at Downstate, affirming our mission to care for underserved populations in Brooklyn and beyond.
Their decisions reflect the values we emphasize at Downstate: service, compassion, and health equity. From internal medicine and psychiatry to emergency medicine, surgery, pediatrics, and family medicine, our students are stepping into areas where their skills are urgently needed—particularly in communities facing persistent care barriers.
Match Day can bring a mix of emotions—excitement, relief, and sometimes uncertainty. It’s important to remember that the perfect match isn’t always the one at the top of your list. Sometimes, the match you didn’t expect is the one that changes your life—and the lives of the patients you’re destined to serve. Wherever you’ve matched, trust that your journey is just beginning, and the patients and communities you serve will be better because of your presence, passion, and purpose.
This year’s match is a milestone that reflects the reach and relevance of Downstate’s mission. Our students are entering residencies focusing on clinical excellence and impact, prepared to heal, to advocate, and to lead.
To the Class of 2025: your Downstate family applauds your dedication, focus, and hard work. You represent the future of medicine—and the communities you will serve will be all the better for it.
Congratulations on this important step. May your path ahead continue to reflect the values that brought you to Downstate.
Match Day 2025 Video