The Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine (SCPM) Class of 2017 has achieved a match rate of 98 percent — a reflection of its members' excellence and commitment.

Scholl College P4s learned where they will complete their podiatric medical and surgical residency programs during the college's match day celebration on March 20. A total of 83 students matched.

"Match Day is such a special event as it marks the end of one chapter in the lives of students and represents the beginning of a new one," said Dean Nancy L. Parsley, DPM '93, MHPE. "It is exciting to experience the day with students and faculty because all of us share the common goal of wanting the Class of 2017 to be successful as they prepare for the next phase of their educational journey."

Rebecca Coyne, SCPM '17, matched to her top pick, Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center in Denver, CO.

"I'm very excited, ready to go on to the next adventure," said Rebecca, who was accompanied by her mother and fiancé during the Match Day celebration in the Scholl Gallery. 

Rebecca chose podiatry, she said, based in-part on shadowing experiences. She majored in biology and pre-med at Augustana College, Rock Island, IL, where she played violin and volunteered at a local trauma center. After earning her BA, she attended community college to earn certification as a nursing assistant, then worked as a patient care technician for a local medical center and as a clinic assistant for a podiatry practice.

"Podiatrists just seem so happy in their work with a very diverse population and their patients are very grateful," Rebecca said. "I especially enjoyed shadowing a podiatrist in a sports medicine and pediatrics practice. That's when I applied to Scholl College."

Rebecca spent a summer as a National Institutes of Health-funded research fellow at Scholl College's Center for Lower Extremity Ambulatory Research. She was also a prolific volunteer for outreach efforts including providing foot care for a local homeless shelter, the Chicago Marathon, and RFU's Interprofessional Community Clinic. She screened potential participants for an ongoing research study during the annual Chicago Diabetes Expo. She also worked as a tutor for the university.

"It's important to get a wide variety of experience both within your field and outside of it," Rebecca said. "That exposes you to new knowledge and ideas. Most importantly, it allows you to form connections with others. That human connection is at the heart of podiatric medicine."

Matching continues through the structured Match Phase Two process, with final results to be announced Friday.