Ceremonies and Events
Upcoming Events
Match Day Celebration
Commencement
Events
The Office of Student Affairs organizes ceremonies/events each year.
First Year Orientation
Our week-long orientation welcomes students to UI COM! They will learn about the curriculum, the campus, and the city. Students will have the opportunity to meet their colleagues, their advisors, and Deans through a series of interactive and didactic sessions.
Med School 101
Med School 101 is an opportunity for families of incoming medical students to learn about the medical student journey and how they can support the learner. Led by UICOM faculty with a panel of current students, it allows families to ask questions and learn firsthand what medical school entails
White Coat Ceremony
This annual momentous event marks the beginning of an incredible journey for our aspiring medical professionals. It’s a day when our students transition from the classroom to the clinic, donning their white coats as a symbol of their commitment to compassionate patient care, ethical practice, and lifelong learning. Join us in celebrating this significant milestone as we embrace the future of medicine together.
Match Day
In an annual ceremony known as “Match Day,” graduating medical students around the country and at the University of Illinois College of Medicine discover where they will begin their careers as doctors. During the emotionally charged, suspense-filled ceremony, students are handed an envelope revealing which residency program has accepted them. The ritual takes place at the same time on the same day for all graduating U.S. medical students. At the same moment, all students learn the location for the next phase of their training. The annual “Match” is conducted by the National Resident Matching Program―a computerized system that matches the preferences of applicants with the preferences of residency programs at U.S. teaching hospitals. The NRMP is a private, not-for-profit corporation established in 1952 to provide uniform date of appointment to positions in graduate medical education throughout the United States. Each year approximately 16,000 U.S. medical school seniors compete for residency positions in the United States.
Commencement/Special Hooding
The Commencement Ceremony is a significant and celebratory event that marks the culmination of medical education for its graduates. It is a momentous occasion that symbolizes the transition from medical education to medical practice, marking the beginning of graduates’ careers as healthcare professionals.