Match Day Profile: Amy Arias

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 2026.

Meet Amy Arias

Growing up in Champaign, Illinois, Amy Arias attended Illinois State University, majoring in political science and Spanish. It was during her undergraduate years where she met her husband of nearly 23 years.

After graduating from college, Arias and her husband moved to Arizona and immediately fell in love with the Phoenix community. They both decided to take an adventure and moved to Ecuador for four years where Arias taught English at an American college.

After moving back to Phoenix, Arias was admitted to the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix’s Pathway Scholars Program, which is designed for students who have experienced unique or greater than average challenges in preparing to become competitive medical school applicants. In May 2021, Arias completed her master’s degree in Medical Studies from the University of Arizona and matriculated into medical school.

Arias said she would not be here without her incredible support system: her three children and her husband, Adrian — who has been her rock through every late-night study session and the emotional highs and lows of medical school.

“He has carried more than his share so I could chase this dream, and he has celebrated every victory as if it were his own,” Arias said. “I am endlessly grateful to him.”

Regarding her children — Adrian, Matthew and Jenna — Arias stated that they have sacrificed alongside her journey through medical school, joining her in coffee shops where they spent hours studying together and were willing to share their mom as she spent long hours away from home due to the unflexible schedule that medical school demands. 

“Watching them grow while I grew as well has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” Arias said. “Additionally, my mom, dad, nana and little brother, who live nearby, have surrounded us with constant encouragement and love. I truly stand on the shoulders of so many.”

Path Toward Medicine

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

The years where I lived in Ecuador shaped me in ways I could have never imagined. It was after we experienced a personal health crisis that my life truly changed. Walking through that season stirred something in me. It was then, after much soul-searching, that I made the decision to return to school and pursue medicine.

As a first-generation college student on both sides of my family, becoming a physician once felt impossibly out of reach. I grew up in poverty. I became a mom at a young age. I have sat in exam rooms not only as a patient, but as the worried partner of one. 

Those life experiences taught me how extraordinary the physician’s role truly is. A doctor can be more than a clinician — they can be a source of hope, dignity, advocacy and steady reassurance during life’s most fragile moments. That realization became my calling. 

Choosing a Specialty

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

I chose primary care because it reflects the kind of physician I aspire to be. Primary care touches every stage of life and every aspect of medicine. It allows me to build lasting relationships, advocate for my patients and care for them not just in moments of crisis, but throughout their entire journey. 

I am especially passionate about combining primary care with hospital medicine, caring for patients both in the clinic and during acute hospital stays, and being a consistent, compassionate presence throughout their entire health care journey. 

What’s Next

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

Post-Match Day, my heart is full thinking about graduation week. On May 11, I will walk across the stage in the morning — a moment years in the making — and that same evening I will watch my oldest son Adrian graduate in mechanical engineering from Arizona State University. 

Just four days later, my son Matthew will graduate high school from BASIS Phoenix. Celebrating my own milestone alongside my sons’ achievements in the same week feels almost surreal — a true testament to perseverance, hard work and the strength of family. 

The College of Medicine – Phoenix Culture

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

What I will miss most about the College of Medicine – Phoenix is the people. It is a place filled with compassion, mentorship and lifelong friendships. The faculty have guided me with patience and grace, and my classmates have become family. The college will always hold a special place in my heart. 

To incoming medical students, I would say this: hold tight to your “why.” There will be moments along the way that test you, stretch you and humble you. Lean on your people. 

It’s okay to have setbacks. Failure is part of the process. Your timing is your own. Everyone’s path is unique and there is value to gain from every challenge. Give yourself grace. Remember that the privilege of caring for another human being is one of the most beautiful callings there is. The journey is worth it!