Match Day Profile: Santana Solomon

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 Santana Solomon

Born in Washington, Santana Solomon grew up in a military family. Together, they moved around quite a bit when she was younger before eventually settling in Buckeye, Arizona, where she spent most of her childhood. 

Solomon is a first-generation college and medical student, which has made this journey especially meaningful for her and her family. For her undergraduate studies, she attended Arizona State University. This is where she first became interested in medicine through human rights and advocacy work. Those experiences eventually led her to work with refugees and asylum seekers. That helped shape her interest in pursuing medicine and surgery to care and advocate for vulnerable populations.

Solomon’s biggest supporters have always been her family and close friends. Her parents always encouraged her to pursue education and opportunities they never had themselves. Solomon also noted that she has been incredibly lucky to have friends who have known her since childhood and who have supported her through every stage of this journey. Their encouragement has meant everything during the harder moments of medical school.

Path Toward Medicine

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

Working with refugees and asylum seekers had a huge impact on me. I helped with medical evaluations for people seeking asylum in the United States and had the chance to hear their stories. Seeing how medicine could play a role in helping someone find safety and dignity really stayed with me. It made me realize that being a physician could allow me to combine technical skills with advocacy for people who often do not have a voice.

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 pursuing plastic surgery because of the way it combines technical skill with the ability to restore dignity and autonomy for patients. My interest grew while working with asylum seekers, including survivors of trafficking and genital mutilation, where I saw how reconstructive surgery could profoundly change someone’s life. What inspires me most about the field is how it can empower people to move through the world in a way that feels authentic to them, rather than being limited by how society traditionally expects them to look or function.

What’s Next

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

Right now, my goal is to learn as much as I can and grow into a thoughtful and skilled surgeon. I am excited to work with mentors and co-residents who will push me to improve every day. Over time, I hope to continue combining reconstructive surgery with advocacy and research that focuses on access to care and underserved communities.

The College of Medicine – Phoenix Culture

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

I will miss my classmates the most. Medical school is such a unique experience because you go through so many highs and lows together. There are long nights of studying, stressful rotations and, also, moments where you celebrate huge milestones together. The friendships I made here are some of the most meaningful relationships in my life, and I know I will miss seeing everyone. 

My biggest advice for incoming students is to lean on your classmates. They will help you get through the hard times, and the friendships you build along the way will end up being one of the best parts of medical school.