Match Day driven by mentorship

For Saman Andalib, the journey to Match Day has been defined by something he considers essential to medicine: mentorship.

Throughout his time at the UC Irvine School of Medicine, Andalib sought out physicians who not only excelled in their specialties but were deeply committed to guiding the next generation of doctors. Two mentors in particular were instrumental in his path to orthopedic surgery: Dr. Ariana Nelson and Dr. John Scolaro.

Through their mentorship, Andalib discovered both the technical precision and the innovative spirit that define the field.

"Working with Dr. Scolaro again has been an immense privilege," he says. "One of the unique things we did together was conduct research in artificial intelligence. Through that work, I realized he is someone who truly looks to push the field of orthopedic surgery forward. That experience sparked my own interest in being at the forefront of innovation, and it's something I want to incorporate throughout my career."

For him, mentorship was not simply about observing. It meant becoming part of the team.

Scolaro recalls that Andalib's initiative was among the qualities that helped him stand out. "One of the things that was really impressive was how he integrated himself into the team," says the associate clinical professor of orthopedic surgery. "He brought ideas forward, developed a niche in research, and helped us explore areas like artificial intelligence in ways that connected directly to patient care."

A culture of mentorship

Mentorship has long been central to the culture at UC Irvine's School of Medicine, something Nelson, associate clinical professor of anesthesiology, says she values deeply.

"I've been working at UC Irvine for 11 years, and my favorite part of this job is mentoring students," she says. "You get to see their progression from clinical immaturity - not knowing what to do, what to say or even how to pronounce certain medical terms - to poised clinicians ready to help patients."

For Nelson, mentoring medical students creates a ripple effect that extends far beyond the classroom or hospital.

"When I prepare a student well, they go out and help countless future patients," she says. "Helping a single patient is incredibly rewarding, but seeing students go into the world and help so many others - that's an even greater impact. I would also say that working with every student is a privilege, an immense privilege.

"However, some students come with a natural verve for discovery and a desire to make medicine better from the very start of medical school. That's exactly what I've experienced with Dr. Andalib. He's incredibly responsive and well prepared, and when conducting research with him, he's always 10 steps ahead."

"Some students come with a natural verve for discovery and a desire to make medicine better from the very start of medical school," says Dr. Ariana Nelson (right), associate clinical professor of anesthesiology, of future physician Saman Andalib (left). "That's exactly what I've experienced with Dr. Andalib. He's incredibly responsive and well prepared, and when conducting research with him, he's always 10 steps ahead." Steve Zylius / UC Irvine

Andalib's experience with Nelson is an example of that ripple effect, showing how her mentorship fosters curiosity, initiative and innovation in her students.

"Working with Dr. Nelson has been an immense privilege," he says. "I've seen firsthand how a clinician can wear many different hats outside medicine. Dr. Nelson works in space medicine, conducts artificial intelligence research and contributes in so many other capacities. Her multifaceted approach as a clinician and innovator has been truly inspiring, and it's something I hope to emulate in my own career."

Building innovation in medicine

At UC Irvine, Andalib didn't just participate in research; he helped foster it.

During medical school, he co-founded - with fellow future physician Aidin Spina - the Comprehend Lab, a multidisciplinary research initiative focused on artificial intelligence and patient education. What began as a curiosity about emerging technology grew into a broader mission to improve how patients understand their medical conditions.

"Co-founding and co-leading the Comprehend Lab profoundly molded my professional identity," Andalib says. "It showed me how technology can amplify, not replace, the human side of medicine."

During medical school, Saman Andalib co-founded the Comprehend Lab, which focuses on artificial intelligence and patient education. "At a time when there was a lot of uncertainty about AI in healthcare, I wanted to help guide thoughtful, patient-centered use of these technologies," he says. "Shaping the future of medicine means not only developing new tools but ensuring that they're used wisely and transparently." Steve Zylius / UC Irvine

Working with peers, clinicians and researchers across specialties, he helped develop and study AI tools designed to improve patient education, analyze clinical outcomes and expand access to understandable medical information.

But Andalib also became a voice of caution and responsibility in the rapidly evolving field.

"At a time when there was a lot of uncertainty about AI in healthcare, I wanted to help guide thoughtful, patient-centered use of these technologies," he says. "Shaping the future of medicine means not only developing new tools but ensuring that they're used wisely and transparently."

Through this work, Andalib began to see his future as not just a surgeon but also a physician-innovator.

A passion for restoring movement

His interest in orthopedic surgery grew from a lifelong fascination with the nervous system and human movement.

Growing up around medicine - his father was a neurologist - Andalib witnessed firsthand the devastating impact neurological disease can have on patients and families. Watching people struggle with strokes and other neurological ailments sparked an early curiosity about the immense impact of movement on quality of life.

That interest deepened during medical school, where Andalib gravitated toward anatomy, biomechanics and surgical specialties that focus on enhancing physical function.

His work under the direction of Dr. Ranjan Gupta in UC Irvine's Peripheral Nerve Research Laboratory ultimately cemented his path toward orthopedic surgery.

"With my mentor's guidance, I developed a love for orthopedics, where restoring movement is central to everything we do," Andalib says. "I want to help patients reclaim the independence that illness or trauma has interrupted."

A milestone shared with family

Match Day represents far more than a career milestone to him.

"Medical school is hard - very hard," Andalib says. "But not just for me - for my family and loved ones who supported me through the highs and lows."

Now, as Match Day approaches on March 20, he reflects on the journey that brought him here - from mentorship and research to innovation and patient care.

One of the accomplishments Andalib is most proud of is helping build a research program that bridges artificial intelligence and orthopedic surgery. The work resulted in publications, national presentations and collaborations across institutions.

More importantly, he says, the work remained grounded in patient impact.

"Our projects focused on transparency, ethical deployment and improving health literacy," Andalib says. "It captures how I hope to practice medicine, pairing innovation with responsibility."

His thoughts about Match Day? "It would be a privilege to match anywhere, and orthopedic surgery is so competitive that I would be more than happy to go wherever I'm accepted," Andalib says. "That said, if it were up to me, I would love to train in Los Angeles, San Francisco or New York City. I think one of those large metropolitan areas would offer the broadest range of patients, push me beyond my boundaries in training and allow me to experience life outside medicine at the same time."

As he prepares to open his envelope on Match Day, he knows the moment represents both an ending and a beginning. "It's the culmination of years of hard work," Andalib says, "and the gateway into a career where I hope to impact countless lives."