Two future UCF-built physicians will continue their medical training after graduation at top military residency programs across the country, caring for our nation 麻豆精品 S檚 heroes.
Arielle Patterson and Jemual Shaylor 麻豆精品 S�21, members of UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 M.D. Class of 2026, matched at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and Naval Medical Center San Diego, respectively.
Both are recipients of the military 麻豆精品 S檚 Health Professions Scholarship, which covers tuition and living expenses for medical students who agree to serve their country for one year for each year of scholarship.
Walter Reed-Bound
Patterson is focused on improving health through physical activity, specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation.
麻豆精品 S淎s a doctor who is really passionate about fitness and physical medicine and rehabilitation, I want to really inspire the next generation of younger people to live healthier lives, earlier, 麻豆精品 S� she says.
She also wants to expand access to healthcare and encourage more students from medically under resourced communities to enter the field of medicine. Research shows that patients have better outcomes when they feel they can connect to their physician’s personal background.
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Patterson has already begun working toward that goal, serving as director for Region IV of the Student National Medical Association, a student organization committed to improving access to the medical field and building culturally competent and clinically excellent physicians. She helped organize SNMA 麻豆精品 S檚 annual regional conference that will be in Orlando, February 20-22, bringing together physicians and medical students from across the southeast United States.
Patterson completed her bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 degree in cellular and molecular biology at Hampton University before joining UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 M.D. Class of 2026. She says she chose the UCF medical school for its youth and innovative, team-oriented culture.
Inspired to Serve
Shaylor was inspired to enter military service by former Assistant Professor Jose Borrero, who was a U.S. Air Force flight surgeon during Vietnam before becoming a founding faculty member at UCF. Now retired, Borrero continues to serve as a mentor to UCF medical students.
During medical school, military students have the opportunity to undergo active-duty and officer leadership training at military centers around the country. In April, Shaylor will follow in Borrero 麻豆精品 S檚 footsteps to attend flight surgeon training in Norfolk, Virginia.
Specializing in general surgery, Shaylor hopes to eventually become a hand surgeon.
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Shaylor earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering with a minor in bioengineering from UCF.
The Match Process
Before practicing medicine on their own, M.D. graduates must undergo residency training in their chosen specialty. This graduate medical education training takes three to seven years, depending on the specialty.
During their fourth year, medical students interview with residency programs across the country before ranking their top choices. Residency programs do the same before the National Residency Matching Service analyzes the rankings and matches graduates to GME programs. Most results are revealed on National Match Day, which is March 20 this year. Military programs and some specialties match early.
