UCSD - University of California - San Diego

03/24/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/24/2026 15:17

All Roads Lead to Match Day

Published Date

March 24, 2026

Article Content

No two journeys to medicine look the same. Some students arrive straight from college, while others bring years of professional experience-or family life-into the classroom. For one University of California San Diego School of Medicine student, her medical school journey began before she was considered a legal adult.

Yasoda Satpathy graduated from high school at 14 years old. She earned her undergraduate degree and began medical school at just 17 years old. Now, 21 years old, she learned on Match Day that she will begin residency training at UCLA in internal medicine in July.

Yasoda Satpathy will graduate medical school this June at 21 years old. Photo courtesy of Yasoda Satpathy.

"I am super excited," said Satpathy. "It hasn't hit me completely yet. It's going to take a little time. I am lucky to have a very supportive family and an amazing group of friends, so this has been a beautiful journey. Match Day marks part of the gradual shift in identity-from student to physician. Of course, I'll still be learning throughout my residency training and beyond, but it's a bit different as now I will be starting my career as a physician."

Match Day marks a turning point

On the third Friday in March, medical students across the country simultaneously receive their match results, which reveal their residency placements. Facilitated by the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), the process begins each September when medical students apply to their preferred resident programs in the specialty of their choice. At the same time, the residency program directors rank applicants based on their preferences. The confidential rank order lists from students and residency programs are then submitted to the NRMP in February, which processes them using a computerized mathematical algorithm to match applicants with programs. This year more than 48,000 medical students across the country participated in the match process.

"Congratulations to all of you -students, family and loved ones. This took unbelievably hard work. Let's just take a moment to acknowledge that," Barbara Jung, MD, associate vice chancellor and dean of the School of Medicine said at UC San Diego's Match Day celebration event. "Understand that you are ready for what lies ahead. Be confident and courageous. And remember to check back in or better yet, come back if you are venturing out. I am thrilled to be able to celebrate with you today."

Parag Sanghvi, MD, assistant dean for admissions (left), and Barbara Jung, MD, associate vice chancellor and dean for the School of Medicine (right), stand with Class of 2026 President Celeste Hsu (2nd to right) and her fiancée, a medical student at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2nd to left), who celebrated a successful couples match.

Paths least travelled

Four years ago, the School of Medicine welcomed several students who took non-traditional paths to medical school. No matter how they got here, they now know which direction the next chapter will take them.

For Austin Powell, becoming a doctor once seemed unreachable. Growing up on the streets of San Diego and relying on community resources including the San Diego Rescue Mission, soup kitchens and donated clothing, Powell studied and worked in a variety of roles while trying to quiet a persistent pull toward medicine. Those experiences, he said, ultimately shaped his purpose: to give back to others facing similar challenges and to build a more stable future for his family.

"The closest I thought I could get to a career in medicine was when I worked in the intensive care unit (ICU) as a technician," said Powell. "I was in love with medicine, and this gave me the chance to see it, albeit from a distance. While I was working there, I met a doctor, Daniel Gramins, who went out of his way to mentor me. He held me accountable and actually made becoming a doctor seem attainable. It took many years, but I completely revamped my academic journey towards medicine. One day I'll get to step back into the ICU, this time as a doctor, and I can channel my experiences into making a difference at the most critical points in my patients' journeys."

Austin Powell will attend the internal medicine residency program at the University of Colorado.

Powell matched at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in internal medicine. As he celebrated the moment with his wife and infant daughter, he reflected on what the milestone represents, not just for himself, but for his family.

"The biggest thing to me is that I have my daughter here with me today," said Powell. "This means security for her. It means she will never have to face the same struggles that I did. That is the most important thing."

That sense of purpose has shaped how Powell shows up, as a student, mentor and future physician.

"As the years have gone on, I have become more unapologetically myself," he added. "I am authentic. I am genuine. I am still rough around the edges. But UC San Diego has been the best place for me because it has been so accommodating to allow me to reach out and engage in the things that I love about medicine and mentorship."

During his time at UC San Diego, Powell created a mentoring program at California State University San Marcos that aims to bridge gaps in resources for students in North County San Diego who aspire to go into medicine. He also participated in Doc-4-A-Day and other outreach programs designed to educate, inform and inspire high school and undergraduate students interested in pursuing a career in medicine.

Family in focus

For Avelina Brener, flexibility has been the key to her success, literally. After retiring from a first career as a dancer and circus artist, she attended UC San Diego to earn her undergraduate degree and then applied to medical school after her first child was born because she wanted to be a role model for him, she said. When Brener started medical school, her oldest child was starting first grade.

"Being an older student and a parent in medical school was very isolating at times but it also fortified me with a lot of drive to get through it," said Brener.

Match Day brought with it a bit of relief for Brener and her partner in that they will be able to remain in San Diego for this next phase of her training. She matched in psychiatry at Family Health Centers of San Diego.

"This journey has definitely not been easy for my family," said Brener. "My partner has been such a huge support. There is no way I would have been able to get here without him. I just feel so unbelievably lucky to have found a second profession that I feel deeply passionate about. I get to help people, and I get to come home at the end of the day feeling like I did something worthwhile."

Winding paths

Gabrielle Shuman's path to medicine included some unexpected twists and turns but once she landed at the School of Medicine, she knew it was the right place.

After completing her undergraduate degree, Shuman completed a pre-medical post-baccalaureate program and then worked for three years as a program manager for a professional dance company before beginning medical school.

Avelina Brener credits her partner for being a huge support as she balanced medical school with motherhood.

"At the time, taking a break in my schooling felt like a setback and maybe even a failure," said Shuman. "But it was absolutely what I needed. I needed that time to grow. I made beautiful friendships in that period of my life and gained a lot of practical experience working full-time for several years that I lean on today."

It was worth the wait she said.

"Although I have come a long way from my days of watching Mystery Diagnosis with my dad on the Discovery Health channel, I always knew I wanted to be a doctor," said Shuman. "My dad raised me, and I learned pretty early on through our journey with his chronic illnesses that I love providing support during vulnerable moments. Beyond human physiology, this is ultimately one of the things I love most about medicine."

Shuman matched in obstetrics and gynecology at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia.

"This was my number one choice, it just feels surreal," said Shuman upon learning where she matched. She expressed gratitude for the circle of friends and family who surrounded her. "These are the people that have supported me the whole way. They've been there during the hard times, it's just so nice to be able to celebrate this together."

Gabrielle Shuman matched into her first choice of obstetrics and gynecology at Emory University

Looking to the future

As each student's personal journey converged on Match Day, Michelle Daniel, MD, vice dean for medical education, offered parting words to guide the students into the next chapter of their training.

"The time that lies ahead will fly by," she said. "My wish for each and every one of you is to find great joy in your work. This is your moment-the profession of medicine is calling you forward. Wherever you match, your patients will need you. They will need your dedication, your skills, your empathy and your compassion. In return, I hope they will bring you great joy."

Echoing that sense of anticipation, UC San Diego alumnus, Anthony Magit, MD '85, clinical professor of otolaryngology at the School of Medicine and associate chief medical officer and pediatric otolaryngologist at Rady Children's Hospital San Diego, welcomed students into the profession.

"This is a momentous day in your life, but it is also the start of an adventure," Magit said. "For those of you going 3,000 miles away or those of you we will see walking around Jacobs Medical Center, we are so excited to welcome you into the field and to welcome you to the most exciting part of your career."

Related content

Match Day by the Numbers

  • 62% of students matched in California
  • 39% of students matched in the UC system
  • 25 students matched at UC San Diego
  • 21 other states that students matched into

Top 5 Specialties

  1. Internal Medicine
  2. Emergency Medicine
  3. Family Medicine
  4. Pediatrics
  5. Obstetrics and Gynecology
UCSD - University of California - San Diego published this content on March 24, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on March 24, 2026 at 21:18 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]