Match Day Profile: Shannon Alsobrooks

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 2025.

Meet Shannon Alsobrooks

From Prince George’s County, Maryland, where her parents currently live, Shannon Alsobrooks attended Appalachian State University in Boone, NC, where she earned a bachelor of science in psychology with a concentration in pre-medical studies. 

Prior to entering medical school, Alsobrooks completed a master of science at Drexel University and later earned her EMT certification. After the latter, she began volunteering at her local fire department and worked as a medical scribe supervisor. Alsobrooks commissioned as 2^nd Lieutenant into the Air Force before starting medical school through the Health Professions Scholarship Program. This is a four-year medical school scholarship that requires a military service commitment after residency.  

A visual learner, Alsobrooks has always had an interest in surgery — a specialty that appealed to her due to its knowledge base, technical skill and the leadership capacity of surgeons — but she kept an open mind throughout medical school.

Throughout her four years of study, her biggest supporters have been her mom and dad. Her parents are her cheerleaders. There have been — and continue to be — moments in Alsobrooks’ education filled with uncertainty, but whenever she faces those moments, her parents are always there to push her through. Alsobrooks noted that her parents were not fortunate enough to pursue higher education, so they are extremely proud of how far she has come.

Additionally, as the first doctor in her family, Alsobrooks sees it as a privilege to advance health literacy and confidence within her own family. 

“My family back home in Maryland and all the faculty physicians and community mentors who have encouraged my development as a medical student and leader over the last four years have also been instrumental in my journey,” she said.

Path Toward Medicine

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

I have always wanted to become a physician. There were brief periods when I considered becoming a marine biologist, pastry chef or pilot, but I always circled back to medicine.

I have always been a leader, so I saw physicians as the ones who guide the medical team and make critical decisions for their patients. I wanted to be that person. I saw physicians as pillars of the community — not only with credibility but also with the compassion to match.

Choosing a Specialty

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

I am proud to say that I have matched into an active-duty general surgery position at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, PA. I love the graduated autonomy and strong mentorship that surgery relies on. I enjoy being in the operating room and working with the surgical team.

When I completed my away rotations in surgery, 5:00 a.m. arrival times didn’t seem so early. That’s when I knew surgery was the specialty for me.

What’s Next

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

Immediately after Match Day, I will be heading to Antigua, Guatemala, for a medical mission trip — something I have wanted to do since college. Afterward, I will attend the ACS Leadership & Advocacy Conference in Washington, DC. Then, I will head to the Annual Medical Education Conference (AMEC), where I have been invited to take part in a panel discussing military methods to fund medical education! 

After graduation, I will sign a new oath of office with the United States Air Force and will be promoted to the rank of Captain. I will head home to Maryland, then move to Hershey, PA, get settled into my new home and gear up for the start of residency.

The College of Medicine – Phoenix Culture

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

I am ready to head back to the Northeast for residency, as I will be just a short drive or train ride away from home, but I will miss the Phoenix weather! More importantly, I will absolutely miss all the faculty physicians, staff and community members with whom I have built relationships over the years.

Our college is special because we have deans, physician educators and community physicians who — despite their busy schedules — never hesitate to schedule a meeting, respond to a text or jump on a phone call. I will also miss my classmates; we all have such unique passions, and I have enjoyed getting to know everyone throughout the rigors of medical school. I am excited to see where they all end up for residency!

Advice for Incoming Medical Students

1. Always be vocal about your interests – You never know who may be able to unlock a door for you. For example, I was able to connect with a faculty surgeon at my upcoming residency program simply by expressing my interest to a family medicine physician at a conference. Another time, during my Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship experience in San Luis, Arizona, in my MS3 year, I mentioned to my internal medicine attending that I was interested in general surgery. He, in turn, introduced me to a general surgeon, whom I later spent two weeks working with in the operating room. The key is to remain open and never feel intimidated by anyone — whether it’s the chief medical officer of a hospital or your local trauma surgeon.
2. Time permitting, say yes to every opportunity – Since my MS1 year, I have served on a total of 10 committees, ranging from accreditation to faculty and dean candidate interviews. These experiences taught me valuable skills in communication and collaboration with college leadership. They also gave school officials ample opportunities to engage with me, which led to more chances to represent my cohort, share my opinions and provide general support. You want to build a reputation; this makes it much easier for your voice to be heard.
3. Be prompt – Whenever things were due — whether it was new student enrollment paperwork, assignments or emails — I made it a priority to respond in a timely manner. Before I even stepped foot on campus, everyone in admissions already knew of me because I was the first student to respond or submit documents. This demonstrates responsibility, eagerness and an understanding that even small tasks should be handled with urgency. We've all been on the receiving end of a delayed response email, so I always make it a point not to keep people waiting.