Two soon-to-be UConn School of Medicine graduates in the Class of 2026 successfully early matched into their competitive medical residency training programs in the field of ophthalmology and urology.
They both now have a jump start before the big National Match Day happens on Friday, March 20 at the strike of noon, when the rest of their medical school class anxiously rips open envelopes to learn their residency program destinies.
Class of 2026’ future Dr. Annie Yao, 32, grew up in Northborough, Mass and was born in Hancheng, China. Yao has been training at UConn School of Medicine since 2018 when she first started her dual MD/Ph.D. degree journey.
Now she adds to that journey a new destination. She just excitedly matched in ophthalmology to the Wills Eye Hospital Residency Program at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.
“Being done early with my match still doesn’t feel real,” exclaims Yao. “I am so thankful for my many mentors who have guided me and advocated for me along this entire process. Wills Eye is a dream program, and I am honored to have made this match!”
Yao completed her Ph.D. at UConn School of Medicine prestigiously in the lab of Dr. Riqiang Yan, a world-renowned Alzheimer’s disease (AD) researcher. The Yan Lab studies of Yao focused on researching how amyloid-producing proteins regulate synaptic function, neuronal excitability, and long-term potentiation – the physical substrate of memory formation – in rodent models of AD.
“I fell in love with ophthalmology when I was still exploring medical specialties during my Ph.D. years. I have always been interested in the nervous system, and the eye is unique in that it is a direct extension of the brain. In ophthalmology, we can directly observe all the layers of the eye using different types of lenses and microscopes, and we can improve or restore someone’s vision with intricate microsurgery. Finally, this field has many opportunities for an aspiring physician-scientist like me.”
Yao is looking forward to celebrating on May 11 at UConn Health’s Commencement together with her friends and family.
“I am really excited to cheer for my friends as they walk across the stage for their degrees!” says Yao who is most grateful for the ‘lifelong friendships’ she has made at UConn medical school.
The future Dr. Kelvin Peterson, 27, of Ivoryton, Conn. was thrilled to learn of his early match to urology. He is headed to residency training at the University of Maryland Medical Center.
“As much as I would have loved to celebrate with my colleagues all together, it is certainly a perk to know where I am going this early on in the year!” shares Peterson with relief. “I can’t wait to see where my peers end up for residency!”
Peterson was inspired at UConn School of Medicine to enter the field of urology he says because of excellent mentorship, and also because the exciting field of urology has so much procedural variety, along with the opportunity to create long-lasting relationships with his patients.
He has really enjoyed his UConn medical school experience and the power of mentorship has come full circle for him.
“I have had the full circle experience of having M4s mentor me during my pre-clinical years and I now have the opportunity to teach and mentor pre-clinical students myself!”
Congrats to the soon-to-be Dr. Annie Yao and Dr. Kelvin Peterson!
