Future physicians celebrate Match Day, look forward to next chapter in medical careers

At the March 20 Match Day ceremony, members of the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson Class of 2026 braved the unseasonable heat to discover where they will spend the next three to seven years of their careers as physicians in specialized residency training programs.

Cheers filled the air at 9 a.m. as more than 100 students eagerly opened their envelopes to learn where they matched, sharing moments of joy with each other and their loved ones in celebration. In total, 119 College of Medicine – Tucson students matched to residency programs across the country.

Around the nation, more than 38,000 soon-to-be medical school graduates took part in the annual tradition, simultaneously finding out where they were placed by the National Residency Matching Program.

“You will always remember this day, as I remember mine,” said Michael M.I. Abecassis, MD, MBA, the Inaugural Humberto and Czarina Lopez Endowed Dean of the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson. “The realization that the current leg of your journey is nearly over as you contemplate and plan the next step makes for mixed emotions. It is a time filled with a great sense of achievement, anticipation and excitement, but at the same time, some uncertainty and anxiety. But today, I would like you to focus strictly on your amazing achievement of crossing this milestone and looking forward to the finish line.”

Forty-four of the soon-to-be graduates matched into residency programs with Banner – University Medical Center in Tucson or Phoenix, and 51 students will be staying in Arizona.

“It feels like just yesterday I welcomed your class at orientation and your White Coat ceremony, and it has truly been a privilege to participate in your journey along the way,” said Kevin Moynahan, MD, vice dean of medical education. “I am happy we will be welcoming many of you to our residency programs here in Tucson, and I am also proud of that those of you who leave will represent the College of Medicine – Tucson around the country.”

“Congratulations to the Class of 2026. You all have such great energy and have helped change the culture of this institution for the better,” said Rich Amini, MD, associate dean for student affairs. “You set a new standard by taking Step 1 early and partnering with us to better integrate board preparation into the curriculum. It has been an honor to be part of your journey, and I know that no matter where you go, you will succeed.”

Class of 2026 students matched at 53 different graduate medical education training centers in 23 states, including Massachusetts General Hospital, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School; Yale New Haven Hospital; Mayo Clinic locations in Minnesota and Arizona; Stamford Hospital, a teaching hospital of Columbia University; Cedars-Sinai Medical Center; UCLA Medical Center, Vanderbilt University; and Banner – University Medical Center locations in Tucson and Phoenix. The graduates will pursue more than 20 specialties in areas including dermatology, urology, aerospace medicine, vascular surgery, plastic surgery, otolaryngology and radiology.

More than 43% of graduates will remain in Arizona, and nearly 50% of the class will go into primary care, helping address the primary care shortage across the state and nation. Residencies generally start in July, and students are required to go to the institution to which they matched.

Match Day highlights include:

• 43% of graduates will complete their residencies in Arizona
• 44 graduates matched with Banner – University Medical Center residency programs in Tucson and Phoenix.
  • 36 at College of Medicine – Tucson
  • 8 at College of Medicine – Phoenix
• 50% of graduates matched into residencies in primary care fields, defined as internal medicine, family medicine, pediatrics, and obstetrics and gynecology:
  • 22% in internal medicine
  • 10% in family medicine
  • 8% in pediatrics
  • 7% in obstetrics and gynecology
• 50% matched into non-primary care specialties, including:
  • 11% in emergency medicine
  • 7% in general surgery
  • 5% in psychiatry
  • 4% in neurology

Meet the Class of 2026

Marcy Belmont: ‘The best feeling ever’

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For Tucson native and fourth-year medical student Marcy Belmont, Match Day marked the realization of a dream years in the making — matching at her No. 1 choice in emergency medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson.

The night before, Belmont barely slept.

“I felt restless. I couldn’t imagine what it would feel like,” she said.

That anticipation quickly turned to joy.

“When I opened my envelope, it made me feel amazing. Once I saw those words on that page I just broke down in tears — best feeling ever.”

Belmont’s journey has been shaped by resilience, from supporting her mother through vision loss to becoming a first-generation college graduate. Now, as a wife and new mother, she steps into residency ready to grow.

“I’m most looking forward to learning from the upperclassmen, the residents and attendings,” she said. “They have so much to offer.”

Soon to become a doctor and resident, Belmont remains grounded in her purpose: caring for anyone who walks through the door and supporting those who come next.

“There are no limits. There’s not a specific type of person who becomes a doctor. Whatever it is you want to be — you can do it.”

Benjamen Meyer: ‘Everything is in preparation for this moment’

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Benjamen Meyer kept his focus simple heading into Match Day.

“I just wanted to match,” he said. “I had a pretty intense workout last night to calm my nerves.”

When he opened his envelope the next morning, his eyes scanned for his match — which turned out to be an intern year at the University of Texas at Austin followed by residency at one of Harvard’s teaching hospitals.

“I wasn’t sure how it would be laid out, but all the way at the bottom, I saw Massachusetts General Hospital,” he said. “My fiancée and I are so excited for Boston.”

Diagnostic radiology wasn’t the specialty Meyer thought he would pursue.

“I wanted neurosurgery for the longest time, but I found out I wasn’t passionate about it,” he said. “I did a research year and was exposed to a lot of clinical radiology. I realized imaging was at the center of so many different patients’ management. What better way to serve so many patients?”

Looking ahead, Meyer said he is ready for what comes next.

“When you’re in med school, you’re learning all the time, but everything is in preparation for this moment,” he said. “I’m grateful to finally be here.”

Samantha Olsson: ‘Looking forward to getting to be somebody’s family doctor’

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Samantha Olsson, a native of Benson, Arizona, hopes to build a career in a rural area like the one she came from. And after matching into the South Campus track of the College of Medicine – Tucson’s family medicine residency program, she is getting closer to her goal.

“As I take these next steps toward my career, I’m most looking forward to getting to be somebody’s family doctor,” she said. “I envision a practice that’s small town, close-knit, serving the communities that built me.”

After three years of residency training, Olsson will remain in Arizona as a recipient of the Primary Care Physician Scholarship, which covers tuition for medical students who commit to practicing primary care in underserved Arizona communities.

“I don’t know if I would have been able to take on the student loans it would have taken to get me through medical school,” she said. “The PCP Scholarship made becoming a doctor possible.”

Olsson describes the hours leading up to her match as a whirlwind.

“I was a nervous wreck last night,” Olsson said. “When I opened my envelope, I saw that I got my very first choice, which was the most exciting feeling in the entire world – I cannot even describe it.”

Colin Potter: ‘It’s a great program and a great place to stay’

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Colin Potter, PhD, earned a doctorate in optical sciences, and as a dual-degree student will earn his MD in May. He will remain at the College of Medicine – Tucson to train in vascular surgery, which involves intricate work with arteries and veins to treat conditions from blood clots to aneurysm.

He is pleased he’ll be remaining in Tucson.

“My fiancée is a resident here, so I was extremely happy. It’s a great program and a great place to stay,” he said. “I love the patients I work with — people who need a very high level of care for a long period of time.”

Dr. Potter says he’s excited by the new and emerging technology in vascular surgery — and plans to contribute to the field.

“The goal will be to build vascular surgical devices, to expand that sphere of influence and help people globally, beyond my immediate community,” he said. “It’s very exciting for someone with my PhD background.”

Before jumping into the next phase of his career, he plans to treat himself to some downtime in recognition of the last eight years of hard work.

“I’m looking forward to some time off to celebrate and relax — and then just hitting the ground running!”

Claire Rosenberger: ‘Excited for all the next steps’

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Illinois native Claire Rosenberger looks forward to building lasting, meaningful relationships with her patients and becoming a positive, trusted presence in her community.

On Match Day, that vision came into focus when she opened her envelope and learned the next step of her training is a family medicine residency at the University of Colorado in Denver.

“I’m really excited to be going to Denver,” she said. “My sister lives in the area, so I’ll get to be close to her.”

Rosenberger credits the support of her family through medical school as she discovered her calling to family medicine.

“Preventive care empowers people to take charge of their health, and family medicine allows physicians to be strong assets in their communities,” she said. “You might be treating multiple generations of the same family.”

The moments before opening her envelope were filled with excitement, which soon turned to tears of joy for her and her partner.

“I actually ripped it,” Rosenberger said. “Then I saw the result. Colorado was exactly what I was hoping for. I’m super excited to end up at my top-choice program. I’m honestly ecstatic.”