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UTHSC College of Medicine, Knoxville Celebrates Match Day 2026

Excitement filled the air at Calhoun's on the River in Knoxville on March 20,2026, as fourth-year medical students from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine, Knoxville (UTHSC COM-Knoxville) gathered with family, friends, and faculty to celebrate one of the most meaningful milestones in their medical journey: Match Day. Against the backdrop of the Tennessee River as the clock struck noon, these soon-to-be physicians opened the letters that would launch the next chapter of their medical careers.

The 2026 Main Residency Match marked the largest in the program's history, with more than 53,000 applicants registered and over 44,000 residency positions offered across more than 6,800 program tracks nationwide. More than 93 percent of positions were filled, highlighting the continued strength and demand for graduate medical education in the United States.

Among those participating were 169 medical students from the UTHSC College of Medicine. Of those, 71 students (42%) will continue their medical training in Tennessee, and 59 (35%) will remain within the UT Health Science Center system for residency training. This includes 14 students who will continue their training in Knoxville at UTHSC COM-Knoxville.

For many students, Match Day represents years of hard work, dedication, and perseverance culminating in a single unforgettable moment.

"I was immediately relieved when I opened my Match letter. I’m especially excited to continue training at a program where I’ve already rotated and built meaningful relationships, which has given me confidence that I’ll be a great fit within the team. Matching at UT Knoxville will also allow me to stay close to family as I transition into residency, which was a top priority for me," said UTHSC medical student John Klett.

"I matched at the program that I knew was the right fit for me from the day I interviewed. The faculty and residents were personable, charming, and welcoming,” said UTHSC medical Student Lexie Smith. “Despite being a large academic program, the atmosphere is close-knit and friendly. They truly made me feel excited to train alongside them."

Paige Johnson, MD, Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Medical Education, said Match Day remains one of the most rewarding moments of the academic year.

"Match Day is a powerful reminder of why we do this work. Watching our students take the next step into residency - confident, capable, and grounded in knowledge and compassion - reflects the strength of our training and the commitment of this campus to developing exceptional physicians. We are incredibly proud of this class and excited to see the impact they will have on the communities they serve," said Dr. Johnson.

The success of these graduating students reflects not only their individual dedication but also the support and mentorship provided by the faculty, residents, and staff of the UTHSC COM-Knoxville. Over the course of their medical education, these students have trained alongside experienced physicians, cared for patients across East Tennessee, and developed the skills needed to become the next generation of healthcare leaders.

While Match Day marks the beginning of residency training, it also highlights the vital role academic medical centers play in shaping the future physician workforce. Many graduates choose to remain in Tennessee, strengthening the state’s healthcare system and continuing the mission of serving communities across the region.

As these new physicians prepare to begin residency programs across the country, they carry with them the knowledge, compassion, and commitment to excellence instilled during their training at UTHSC COM-Knoxville.

UTHSC medical students participating in this year’s Match celebration in Knoxville include:

Bailey, Clark - U Kentucky COM-Lexington - Pediatrics/Psych/Child Psychiatry
Baker, William - U Tennessee COM, Chattanooga - Pediatrics
Bornt, Billy - Brooke Army Medical Center - Internal Medicine
Chaney, Ragan - U Tennessee COM-Chattanooga - Obstetrics and Gynecology
Corbitt, Nolan - U Alabama Hospital-Birmingham - Anesthesiology
Grande, Payton - U Washington Affil Hosps - Plastic Surgery
Hungerford, Drew - UT Ascension St Thomas, TN - Surgery-General
Ivey, Ashlyn - UTHSC COM-Knoxville - Internal Medicine
Klett, John - UTHSC COM-Knoxville - Surgery-General
Ladd, Evan - Mayo Clinic School of Grad Med Educ-MN - Child Neurology
Lee, Eleanor - U Kentucky COM-Lexington - Surgery-General
Magnus, Kerrigan - Baptist Mem Med Education, TN - Obstetrics and Gynecology
Morales, Vincent - UT Ascension St Thomas-TN - Emergency Medicine
Nadaud, Jack - Medical University of South Carolina - Urology
Park, Liliane - UTHSC COM-Knoxville - Internal Medicine
Parker, Karsten - UTHSC COM-Knoxville - Internal Medicine
Perry, Cameron - UTHSC COM-Knoxville - Anesthesiology
Pritchett, Justin - East Tennessee St Univ - Family Medicine
Smith, Lexis - Wake Forest Baptist Med Ctr, NC - Psychiatry
Venero, Alexander - Stony Brook Teach Hospital, NY - Pathology-Anatomic and Clinical
Webb, Thomas - UTHSC COM-Knoxville - Radiology-Diagnostic

Posted April 6, 2026