Convocation Profile: Emrie Tomaiko-Clark

On Monday, May 11, the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix will hold its 16th Convocation. Led by a pipe and drum corps, the Class of 2026 will process through downtown Phoenix, finishing at the Phoenix Convention Center for their official ceremony. The day marks the beginning of the next phase in their journey as physicians. The college profiled a series of graduating students to commemorate the milestone.

Meet Emrie Tomaiko-Clark

Born and raised in Arizona, Emrie Tomaiko-Clark grew up in the West Valley and considers Buckeye as her hometown. A non-traditional student, Tomaiko-Clark graduated from Arizona State University majoring in anthropology and Mandarin Chinese with no intentions of becoming a doctor until she met her mentors.

Tomaiko-Clark would specifically like to thank those mentors: Wilber Su, MD, Michael Zawaneh, MD, Edward Rhee, MD, Sharon Kusne, NP, and Peter Weiss, MD. Without their encouragement, she said she would not have gotten into medical school in the first place.

She also would like to thank her family for their support as she changed her life around to pursue a career in medicine; the wonderful friends she has made in medical school who have helped her through any challenges; and her husband, Cory, for his unwavering support.

Match Day

On Match Day, what was it like discovering where you were headed for residency?

I was stunned. I'm still stunned. I had no idea what to expect on Match Day. I had interviews at so many wonderful programs, so I had no idea what name would be written on that Golden Ticket. I'm feeling so immensely grateful I matched at such an amazing program!

What’s Next?

What excites you most about your upcoming residency? Where are you headed?

I'm very proud to say that I matched at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee! I've never lived in this state, but I'm excited to explore such an exciting city, especially the food.

I chose to rank this program not only for their incredible cardiology department, but also because of the Global Health program. The people I met in my interview were so kind and welcoming. I really feel like I'm going to fit in at this program. I'm so excited to go somewhere I can engage in all my passions!

What inspired you to pursue this specialty?

Internal medicine was one of my favorite rotations in medical school. Internal medicine is like walking into a bakery and seeing all the wonderful pastries and then getting to try a little of everything! 

It's also a steppingstone to a future career in cardiology, my true passion. I've always said that I think there's something beautiful about caring for what many cultures consider the soul of a person. Hopefully this next step in my career continues to lead me down that path!

The College of Medicine – Phoenix Culture

Looking back, what’s your favorite medical school memory?

There are two memories that come to mind. The first was in second year. I was tired from studying all the time. Boards were looming. The Music in Medicine interest group hosted a Japanese Taiko drum session. We beat on these huge drums and totally messed up the nice song, but it was so wonderful to laugh and let go with my classmates.

The other memory was on a medical mission trip to Mexico with the Global Health Certificate of Distinction program. I met a couple who had been hit by a car. They were holding hands and launched into the air. Since they were unable to afford medical care otherwise, it had been a week since the accident. 

The husband's shoulder had separated, and his wife's foot was broken. They were so kind and put so much trust in me, despite only being a student. When I returned in the fall to the clinic, I got to see them in follow-up and they remembered me! It made me truly understand what David Beyda, MD, always tells us about building covenant relationships with our patients. It made me want to strive for that relationship with my patients in the future.