Match Day Profile: Spencer Bayless and Abbey Colorafi

Every third Friday in March, fourth-year medical students across the United States learn where the next chapter in their careers will be written. Match Day is the day when the National Resident Matching Program releases results to applicants in sealed envelopes, revealing where they will spend the next several years in residency, training in their chosen specialty. After years of preparation and study, it is a long-awaited and well-deserved day to celebrate. The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix is profiling several students for Match Day 2023.

Meet Spencer Bayless and Abbey Colorafi

Spencer Bayless is an Arizona native from the west valley. In the first two years of his undergraduate education, he was in California playing college baseball before transferring back to Arizona State University (ASU) to finish his degree.

Bayless credits his parents — Kevin and Danielle — siblings — Devin, Katie, Austen, Kayleigh — grandparents — Tim, Denise and Bob — and his closest friends — Aaron, Mandy, Chris, Arjun, Neil, Bryce and Matt — as his biggest supporters.

Abbey Colorafi was born in Flagstaff, AZ, but grew up in Scottsdale and went to ASU for her undergraduate degree.

Colorafi credits her parents, brothers, friends and her family’s dog, Daisy, for supporting her throughout medical school. Both Bayless and Colorafi also credited each other as guiding forces for one another throughout medical school.

Path Toward Medicine

What was the spark that led you to become a physician?

Bayless: I have wanted to be a physician since I was 10 years old. My own experience with chronic illness afforded me firsthand experience of the positive impact physicians could have on patients physically, but also emotionally and mentally. Knowing what it felt like to lay in a hospital bed sick and scared ignited a passion to become an advocate for everyone going through something like I did.

Colorafi: I had an interest in medicine from a young age, and my time volunteering at Phoenix Children’s and as a medical assistant during my undergraduate studies sealed the deal for me. I enjoy the academic rigor and compassion that medicine encompasses. Each day is different, and I feel grateful to learn from patients every day.

Choosing a Specialty

Do you have a specialty? What is it and why did it interest you, or what led you to it?

Bayless: Anesthesiology with an interest in interventional pain medicine in the future. I love the workflow of operating room (OR) days, the camaraderie of being a part of the OR team, the ability to make decisions and see results in real time and, most of all, the role of ultimate advocate for my patient on the OR table.

As for pain, I think it can be easily overlooked, yet often have the biggest negative impact on patients. I love the idea of working with patients to provide relief that allows them to live their most functional, enjoyable life.

Colorafi: Anesthesiology! I became interested in this specialty during my trauma and vascular surgical rotations. Being in the OR felt like magic to me, and I loved the adaptability and camaraderie it required. This specialty perfectly combined my interest in physiology and pharmacology with being able to comfort patients during a scary and vulnerable time.

What’s Next

Post-Match Day, what are your goals moving forward?

Bayless: I am looking forward to starting my life with Abbey, married in a new city training to become amazing anesthesiologists. Professionally, I hope to someday open my own interventional pain medicine practice with multidisciplinary psychiatric care. I also plan to stay heavily involved in advocacy and policy work while launching our own nonprofit benefiting kids with chronic illness.

Colorafi: I am excited to get married the week of graduation and possibly move to a new city. My plan is to just enjoy this time as I know I will have a bunch of expectations and goals once I start residency. My dream is to be a pediatric anesthesiologist and have a family. As of now, I am interested in working in an academic setting with residents and medical students.

The College of Medicine – Phoenix Culture

What will you miss most about the College of Medicine – Phoenix? Any advice for incoming medical students?

Bayless: My classmates were hands down the best part of medical school. My advice to incoming students would be to lean on your classmates. They know what you are going through and how you are feeling better than anyone, so stay connected.

Also, medical school is busy and hard, but never skip an opportunity to celebrate a moment or accomplishment — no matter how big or small. Work hard to get where you want to go, but enjoy the present, too. Medical school can be some of the most fun times of your life because of the people around you.

Colorafi: I will miss being classmates with my best friend, Nisha. We have gone through high school, undergrad and medical school together. I will also miss being able to take road trips with my mom!

My advice for incoming students would be to study hard and try your best, but do not let medical school become your whole life. Taking care of yourself helps you take care of your patients better and makes you more resilient. Prioritize spending time with family and friends and have goals/hobbies outside of school. This will help keep you balanced and remind you of your identity outside of being a student. Also, get an animal. It helps so much.

Couples Matching

What does it mean to be able to take the next step in your journey together?

Bayless: Everything. This career path is incredibly challenging and does not get easier after medical school; but having your best friend and partner by your side through it all makes it fun — even during the toughest times. Abbey understands firsthand what I experience daily, what excites me about medicine and what goals I have for the future. Being able to pursue those goals with her makes life even that much sweeter. It also makes pursuing our personal goals outside of medicine even more rewarding and joyful.

Colorafi: Medical school and the process of matching has its challenges but getting to do it with your best friend makes it significantly better. I am excited to be able to do this next step together and share the joys and hardships that residency will entail. Having a partner in medicine makes you sharper and helps refresh your enthusiasm for medicine on days when you are fatigued.