Stony Brook University's Renaissance School of Medicine has replaced its tradition "Match Day" event to a Facebook Live match day event to comply with social distancing guidelines due to the pandemic.

The 116 students matching to residencies nationwide were invited to participate in the virtual event, which aired on Facebook Live on March 20.

Match Day is a national event that normally includes approximately 30,000 fourth year medical students nationally and is a great celebration among students, their family and friends, and their teachers.

It is one of the most important days in a medical student's experience, as students find out about their residency assignments, in effect launching their medical careers.

According to the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), which administers Match Day, more than 34,000 medical students matched to residency programs.