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i l l i n O i S M e d i C i n e | 21 ing around and comparing notes, as well as photos of M4s holding their residency placement letters and embracing their loved ones. But this year's class in Chicago added a new wrinkle, agreeing that they would open their white envelopes all at once rather than one by one—as Peo- ria students have done for a number of years. the Chicago fourth-year students are headed to 24 states, nearly half staying in Illinois and the second-highest number headed to California. Internal medicine is the top specialty, followed by fam- ily medicine, emergency medicine, orthopaedic surgery and general surgery. the university of Illinois Hospital & Health sciences system is the top destination, followed by northwestern university, university of Chicago, and rush university Medical Center. the 44 matching M4s on the rockford campus, who had their event with families on campus, will be spread across 15 states and in 14 specialty areas. nearly half—48 percent—matched in primary care specialties including family medicine, internal medicine and pediatrics. In urbana-Champaign, 18 seniors matched in 11 different states and 10 different specialties. the state with the highest matriculation rate will be georgia (3) while the most sought-after specialties were pediatrics and family medicine (four apiece). thirty-six of the 44 Peoria fourth-year students—more than 80 per- cent—will go into primary care residencies, including internal medicine (15), medicine-pediatrics (3) and pediatrics (4), and nearly a quarter will stay in Illinois. Linda rowe, edd, assistant dean for student affairs in Peoria, noted that the primary care fields provide great versatility and opportunity. "these students will be ready to meet the changing and evolving healthcare needs of our region and country," she said. four couples decided to link their ranking during the match this year, held at Weaverridge golf Club, possibly a record number for Peo- ria. "I cannot remember the last time we had that many couples in the match," rowe said. Peoria student dan rossi, Md '14, matched with his top pick, in orthopaedic surgery at Massachusetts general Hospital/Brigham and Women's Hospital, a major teaching hospital for Harvard Medi- cal school. "It's been a grind; day-in, day-out, lots of hard work," he said. "It all culminates today with … somebody at Harvard's program saying, 'We think you will be a good orthopaedic surgeon.' It feels so good!" urbana-Champaign student Philip goering, Md '14, a longtime science teacher at Champaign Centennial High school, is moving on to a second career while upholding his family's service of military service, as he begins a residency in family medicine at Martin Community army Hospital in fort Benning, ga. urbana-Champaign student tom anderson, Md '14, who matched in diagnostic radiology at the university of Washington, added levity to the proceedings by donning a university of Washington Huskies' ball cap, emulating nBa and nfL rookies at their respective drafts. ander- son confessed he'd had a number of hats in waiting, to be certain he had the appropriate school represented. In rockford, regional dean alex stagnaro-green, Md, four days to fulfilling their professional dreams A WhIte envelope c h i c a G o M at c h D ay P h o t o s b y D i a n e s M u t n y