School of Medicine grads get assignments

Jennifer Knight

Friday, March 22, 2002 | 11:14 a.m.

Elizabeth Raskin could hardly contain her excitement when her cell phone rang in the crowded room at the University of Nevada School of Medicine Patient Care Center.

"Well, I'm going to Boston," she told a friend Thursday.

The 26-year-old medical school graduate will serve her residency at the New England Medical Center in Boston to receive practical training as a surgeon.

The School of Medicine's 46 graduates -- as well as medical school students throughout the country -- on Thursday received their assignments during natonal Match Day.

Every student attending Nevada's School of Medicine was matched with one of the students' top choices, said Michael Harter, vice dean of the School of Medicine.

"It's the first time in the history of the School of Medicine that the entire four-year medical students matched at least one of their residency requests," Harter said.

After graduation medical students typically apply between three and 11 hospitals. If not chosen for one of those slots they must scramble to find another, Harter said.

The next three to six years will be among the most trying of their careers, as they face long hours, little sleep and pay starting at about $30,000 a year.

"It's pretty daunting, but it's a small price to pay. We've been working for this for eight years." said Marcus Rosencranz, 25, who will begin his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of California, San Diego.

Rosencranz said he hopes that when he finishes some seven years of residency training, he wants to return home.

However, the prospect of high medical malpractice insurance rates coupled with the St. Paul Co.'s decision to leave Nevada is cause for concern among some students.

"It is something, I think, that everyone thinks about and it looms somewhere in the distance," Raskin said. "I think people still look to come back to practice in Nevada, but if the issue isn't resolved by the time their residencies are finished, then I'm sure that will weigh heavily on their decision."

The 44 medical residents leaving the state -- two are remaining in Nevada -- for specialty training, will be covered by their sponsoring hospital's medical malpractice policy.