Opening Envelopes, Launching Futures: Class of 2026 Celebrates Match Day
Posted on March 20, 2026
On Friday morning, the USA Mitchell Center buzzed with nervous excitement as 70 members of the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine’s Class of 2026 counted down to 11 a.m. When the bell rang, students tore open their envelopes, joining medical school seniors across the country in learning where they will spend the next several years training as resident physicians.
The Match Day ceremony is one of the most anticipated milestones in medical education, representing years of rigorous training, mentorship and personal growth. Held annually on the third Friday of March, it also concludes months of interviews and ranking through the National Resident Matching Program.
This year, 36% of the class matched at programs in Alabama, including 16 students who will continue their training at USA Health hospitals. In addition, 39% of the class matched in primary care specialties.
“It’s an amazing feeling to know that in just a couple of days, four years of hard work will all lead up to the moment when I open my envelope,” said Madison Hogans ahead of Match Day. “Though I’m nervous about where I’ll match, I truly believe that I will end up exactly where I’m supposed to be.”
A native of Dothan, Alabama, Hogans participated in the Whiddon College of Medicine’s Primary Care Pathway, which prepares future physicians to serve rural and underserved communities. Hoping to work in a field that allows her to care for patients throughout their lives, she applied for a combined internal medicine and pediatrics residency.
“I have found that I love caring for patients of all ages and am especially drawn to transitions of care and complex care,” she said. “In the future, I hope to focus on transition and complex care in the outpatient setting while also remaining involved in academic medicine.”
Hogans, who matched at the University of Cincinnati for residency, said she will always be proud to say her journey started at the University of South Alabama.
“Over the past four years, I have had the opportunity to learn from and be mentored by exceptional faculty, and for that I am incredibly grateful,” she said. “Through the robust and diverse experiences they provided, I have grown in my confidence and feel comfortable with whatever situation I may find myself in, whether that be in a teaching role, identifying resources in a primary care or rural setting, or simply providing patient-centered care to my patients.”
Together at USA Health
Match Day also marked the beginning of a shared future for some students.
Madelyn Campbell and Samuel Motz, who began dating before medical school, were accepted to the Whiddon College of Medicine at the same time and will celebrate their wedding just days before they graduate this May with their medical degrees. The pair participated in the couples match, both securing residency positions at USA Health.
“I am excited, anxious, but mostly proud of my wife and I for making it to this point where we have the opportunity to match into our specialties,” Motz said. “Madelyn has been my rock throughout this journey through medical school, and I could not have done it without her love and support.”
Campbell, of Coppell, Texas, found her calling in obstetrics and gynecology, a path inspired by her passion for patient advocacy that took shape during her third-year rotation.
“Coming into medical school, I knew I wanted to pursue a field that allowed me to advocate on behalf of patients facing various injustices,” she said. “I fell in love with how impactful patient advocacy could be on maternal-fetal outcomes.”
Motz, of Huntsville, Alabama, is pursuing general surgery after gaining an appreciation for the specialty’s breadth and complexity during his third-year clinical rotations.
“What draws me most to general surgery is the versatility of the surgeon’s role,” he said. “Ultimately, general surgery feels like the place where I can have the greatest impact on the patients and communities I serve. It is a field that demands lifelong learning, constant growth, and a commitment to excellence which are qualities that align closely with the kind of physician I hope to become.”
Southern California bound
For Noah Que, originally from Azusa, California, the day carried added uncertainty. His wife, Justine Que, graduated from the Whiddon College of Medicine in 2025 and is completing a pediatrics residency in Loma Linda, California.
Because they graduated in different years, they were unable to participate in the couples match process.
Surrounded by family, Que opened his envelope and learned he had matched at Eisenhower Medical Center, also in Southern California. He will train in emergency medicine.
“I really enjoy the pace, patient encounters and how spontaneous it can be,” he said. “More importantly, I truly enjoy the responsibility of being first-line in medicine in caring for the emergent physical and emotional needs of patients and their families.”
He credited faculty mentors in the Department of Emergency Medicine with helping him navigate the field and guiding him through the match process.
“The Whiddon College of Medicine has introduced incredible friends who have supported me through the rigors of medical school and helped celebrate life events such as getting married,” Que said.
Cancer fighter
Match Day marked the next step toward a career in radiation oncology for Megan Rasmussen.
A native of Headland, Alabama, she was drawn to the field for its blend of patient relationships, research, education, physics and interdisciplinary teamwork.
“I am looking forward to being a supportive figure for my future patients who are going through some of the toughest moments in their lives,” she said. “I am passionate about ensuring that my patients have all the information and evidence they need to be empowered to make informed decisions.”
Mentorship at the USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute helped shape her career path. Throughout medical school, Rasmussen worked closely with radiation oncologist Adam Huddleston, M.D., and cancer researcher Aishwarya Prakash, Ph.D.
This summer, Rasmussen will head across the country to Oregon Health & Science University in Portland.
“I’m going to miss my mentors and friends next year,” she said, “but I know the future
holds a whole new adventure that I feel prepared for.”
Watch the full recorded livestream of the Match Day ceremony.
