BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — On the third Thursday of March, medical students around the country opened envelopes and learned their fate.

The day is “Match Day,” and students at medical schools across the country find out at the same time where the next phase of their medical training will take place. The term is from three to seven years, and affects the specialty they will pursue. Some are overjoyed, they got what they wanted. Some are less happy.

Count Paul Nickerson as one of the happy ones. The 2002 graduate from Robertsdale High found out he would be at a residency in surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. He’s in his fourth year at the University of Alabama School of Medicine in Birmingham.

The whole process is handled by a computer at the National Resident Matching Program. Medical students visit and rank the programs they like, and the programs do the same with the students. The computer makes the “match.”

“That was my first choice,” said Nickerson of the Mayo Clinic match. He added that one of his instructors had gone to Auburn, and then went on to the Mayo Clinic.

While Nickerson has been seen lots of surgery while a UAB student, he’s still not sure what type of surgery he’d like to specialize in.

“I’m still considering it,’ said Nickerson, adding that he “likes” reconstructive surgery. “There’s still a lot of surgery I haven’t seen yet.”

While surgery was an early interest, he became convinced during a student rotation at UAB.

“I just clicked with the residents,” Nickerson said. “I like that type of work.”

So far, one procedure has caught his professional interest.

“There’s a technique where you use belly fat to do a breast reconstruction,” he said.

Nickerson played drums in the Robertsdale High School band.

During his first few years at RHS, he didn’t plan to become a doctor.

“I figured it out my senior year,” said Nickerson. “We has a shadow program and I was at South Baldwin Regional Hospital and worked in the recovery room and I talked to some of the surgeons.”

Nickerson was hooked. He started a premedical program in college and was admitted to UAB.

“I like to hunt and fish,” said Nickerson, adding that his schedule does not allow time for those pursuits. “I really enjoyed my time in Baldwin County.” Nickerson has also taken up rock climbing while at UAB.

While he’s not looking forward to the colder temperatures in Minnesota, he also says he probably won’t notice them too much.

“You’re inside most of the time,’ chuckled Nickerson.