103 UConn Medical Students Celebrate Residency Match Success More than 100 UConn medical students gathered at the UConn Health campus in Farmington, Connecticut, on Friday to learn where they will continue their training during the annual Match Day ceremony. The Class of 2026 opened white envelopes to discover their residency placements, marking a significant milestone in their medical education. Among the students, some achieved their top career goals. Cyrena Abbasi, who matched at Yale—her first choice—expressed gratitude for the opportunity. “I’m so excited to match at Yale, [it] was my number one choice, so I’m just, I’m feeling very grateful today,” she said. Lucia Duenas-Bianchi, another student, shared her appreciation for pursuing her aspirations. “I’m very thankful, and very fortunate to be able to really pursue my dreams, and get to be what, you know, I’ve always wanted to be,” she said. For others, the achievement felt like a personal triumph. Maria Guerrero, who matched despite coming from a Hispanic immigrant background, emphasized the importance of her success. “I just want to say, coming from a Hispanic immigrant background, I didn’t think this was possible today,” she said. “So, I’m going to say for everybody else that, on a similar path, you can do it.” The Match Day event is a nationwide tradition, with medical students across the country simultaneously learning their residency placements. UConn Health reported that 40 percent of the graduating class will continue their training in Connecticut, highlighting the state’s role in shaping future physicians. The ceremony underscores the culmination of years of rigorous study and the beginning of a new chapter in these students’ careers.#uconn #uconn_health #farmington_connecticut #class_of_2026 #cyrena_abbasi
