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For the MD Class of 2026, four years of hard work will peak with the opening of a single envelope.

On Friday, March 20, the MD Class of 2026, part of Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) at ���Ϲ�, will gather with family, friends and faculty for one of the most anticipated milestones in medical education: Match Day.

At noon sharp, envelopes will open across the country, revealing where each student will complete their residency training. Cheers, tears and embraces will follow — the culmination of years of study, sacrifice and purpose.

Behind every envelope is a story.

For many in the MD Class of 2026, Match Day represents not just a career step, but a deeply personal calling shaped by lived experience, family influence and a strong desire to serve communities in need.

A Calling Rooted in Community

For one student from Jonesville, Virginia, the path to medicine began by witnessing the challenges faced by rural patients — including those from her own hometown.

“I was drawn to medicine by seeing many patients, even from my own community in Virginia, who go without care or are forced to overcome significant barriers in obtaining this care,” said Katie Kolb, MD Class of 2026. “I have always felt compelled to lessen this burden and knew medicine was my calling.”

During medical school, she welcomed her first child and realized some of those challenges firsthand.

“I drove over an hour for routine prenatal care for nine months. I drove myself in active labor to our closest labor and delivery, which was an hour and a half away,” she said. “Although this is considered the status quo for many, patients should not shoulder this burden.”

She hopes to return to underserved communities and improve access to reproductive healthcare, combining advocacy, research and patient care.

“I look forward to not only providing care in these areas but also being a leader in improving healthcare access for rural communities,” she said.

She credits medical school mentors for supporting both her academic and personal journey.

“I cannot imagine a better place to be supported to pursue any and all opportunities that fulfill you and bring you joy,” she said. “I was able to have my family while also keeping up with academic rigor because of the truly incredible support here.”

Service, Leadership and a New Mission

Matthew Surratt brings a different, but equally service-driven, path to Match Day.

The Virginia Beach resident graduated from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill before serving 10 years as a Navy SEAL. A fourth-generation physician, he says his inspiration began with his grandfather, who practiced medicine for 50 years in Korea and Bangladesh and focused on treating tuberculosis and leprosy in challenging environments.

“I initially was drawn to surgery,” he said. “But I found that psychiatry offered the path to be of the most help to my former community.”

He hopes to match into psychiatry and continue serving active-duty and veteran populations.

“I hope to bring my unique experiences and background to the field of psychiatry,” he said. “It’s my hope that I will be able to offer insights and perspective to both patients and my fellow physicians.”

Choosing Eastern Virginia Medical School at ���Ϲ� felt natural.

“This is my home, and it has a heavy active-duty and veteran patient population,” he said. “It has the small feel but offers excellent opportunities in all specialties.”

Empowering Patients to Reclaim Their Lives

For Chesapeake native Thomas Amabile, medicine was part of daily life growing up. His father is a primary care physician, and his mother is a registered dietitian. But it wasn’t until college, when he encountered patients living with neurological injuries and degenerative conditions, that his path became clear.

“Seeing their resilience, improvement in quality of life and passion for life despite major challenges was incredibly inspiring and solidified my desire to be part of their journey,” he said.

He hopes to match into physical medicine and rehabilitation.

“I love the combination of musculoskeletal and neurological medicine, along with the specialty’s focus on patient function and quality of life,” he said.

Growing up in Hampton Roads made EVMS at ���Ϲ� an easy choice.

“When it came time to choose a medical school, the combination of being close to my family and the opportunity to learn in the community I grew up in made the decision an easy one,” he said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better experience.”

The Moment That Changes Everything

Match Day is often described as both exhilarating and nerve-wracking. In a single moment, years of preparation give way to the next phase of training.

But for the Class of 2026, the envelopes represent more than placements on a map. They represent missions. These students aim to expand access in rural communities, serve veterans and active-duty service members and restore function and quality of life.

On March 20, as the countdown begins and envelopes tear open, the celebration will mark not an ending, but a beginning.

A new generation of physicians, shaped by compassion, resilience and purpose, will step forward to serve communities in Virginia and beyond.