Congratulations Class of 2026
Congratulations, Class of 2026!
Stritch鈥檚 newest alumni are ready for the next step in their calling as physicians
The Stritch Class of 2026, their families, and members of the Stritch community gathered on Saturday, May 9 for Commencement. The ceremony celebrated our newest alumni and their path to becoming compassionate physicians who are committed to caring for the whole person in the Jesuit tradition.
Prior to Commencement, they marked another milestone in their journey: Match Day. It is an annual rite of passage on the third Friday in March when medical students around the country open personalized envelopes to learn where they matched for residency. As is tradition, the Class of 2026 gathered with their families, friends, and members of the Stritch community at a Match Day celebration to mark the occasion.
Now that they’ve graduated from medical school, they will soon begin residency where they will continue their medical training in their chose specialty. Their hard work, dedication, and resilience over the past four years brought them to this monumental milestone. And their medical education at Stritch provided them with the necessary clinical and basic science training to make them more than prepared for residency and beyond.
Read the Q&A below to get to know some of the recent graduates and learn about the most valuable things they learned at Stritch and what advice they have for future medical students.
Lauryn Bausley
Specialty I matched into: Internal Medicine
Where I matched: University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL
What I want to focus on in my medical career:鈥� I hope to build a career centered on meaningful relationships with patients and colleagues, serving underserved communities, and caring for diverse patient populations. I’m passionate about fostering inclusive, collaborative spaces where patients feel seen, and my colleagues feel supported. Through mentorship and advocacy, I hope to help create the kind of welcoming community that has shaped me.
The most valuable thing I learned in medical school at Stritch: The most valuable thing I learned at Stritch was to trust myself. Early in medical school, confidence did not always come easily, but over these four years, I’ve realized how much I’ve grown and how well Stritch has prepared me to become a resident physician. That sense of confidence, paired with humility and a lifelong commitment to learning, is something I will carry forward in my career.
One thing I would tell future medical students: Enjoy medical school and the relationships you build along the way. The friendships, mentors, and community around you will carry you through both the challenges and the joys of training. Slow down and take it all in, because medical school will go by so quickly. Believe in yourself, even when things feel difficult. Medical school will push you, but it will also help you grow in ways you may not yet realize.
Matt Driscoll
Specialty I matched into: Urology
Where I matched: Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ
What I want to focus on in my medical career:鈥� In my practice as a urologist, I hope to ameliorate the stigma associated with genitourinary disease and offer a safe place for patients to seek care without fear or judgement. Inspired by a love for learning imparted onto me by my mom, a teacher herself, I hope to balance my clinical work with a career in medical education. Currently, I plan to sub-specialize in reconstructive or pediatric urology.
The most valuable thing I learned in medical school at Stritch: By being our authentic selves in our lives and our work we can each bring unique perspectives to better serve our patients and each other. Our lives and stories will always meaningfully inform the way we care for one another.
One thing I would tell future medical students: Embrace your mistakes as the purest forms of learning you can benefit from! We are training not just to learn what is unknown, but training to be comfortable navigating the unknown.
Phaedra Johnson
Specialty I matched into: Medicine-Pediatrics
Where I matched: University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, CO
What I want to focus on in my medical career:鈥� I am passionate about advancing health equity, serving underserved communities, and working with all kinds of patients, including refugees and those with disabilities. I plan to do Med-Peds primary care and combined hospitalist. I look forward to doing more advocacy, especially for my future pediatric patients. I am fluent in English and Spanish and plan to learn more languages.
The most valuable thing I learned in medical school at Stritch: Cura personalis means care of the whole person. Coming from a Jesuit college, I knew a lot about the Jesuit ideals, and at Stritch, I flourished in putting this into practice. As a physician, I will look at the whole picture and consider social and systemic determinants of health. I will use tools and provide resources to take care of them holistically. Through this practice, I learned that I could help patients feel fully seen and valued.
One thing I would tell future medical students: There will be times when you feel like you need to align with what a medical student is "supposed" to be. Don't be too hard on yourself. It is possible to have balance and thrive. Classmates, faculty, mentors, friends, and family will have an idea of what you should be doing at all stages of this journey. Whether you're studying or exploring the city, be present where you are. Comparison is the thief of joy. Tune out the noise. Trust yourself and your decision-making. It will all work out.
Brian Tabata
Specialty I matched into: Emergency Medicine
Where I matched: Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL
What I want to focus on in my medical career:鈥� My time as a nuclear operator serving on submarines in the U.S. Navy has taught me a lot of valuable lessons in team dynamics, leadership, and operating in strenuous high stakes environments. Medicine in the emergency room faces many of the same challenges. I would like to work to bring some of the expertise I developed in the Navy into the medical field through teaching and quality improvement initiatives.
The most valuable thing I learned in medical school at Stritch: The importance of being present. With increasing patient loads and raising two young boys at home, it is easy to feel like you are being pulled in a million different directions.
My most meaningful experiences in the hospital and at home have come when I have committed myself to being in the moment with whomever I am with. Being sincere and intentional with your time is the only way you can find value in such a precious limited resource.
One thing I would tell future medical students: Success in medical school is not about finding the “perfect” path, instead it is about developing the tools to keep placing one foot in front of the other. You will get lost in the woods, and it’s important to get comfortable in this uncomfortable setting. Each new challenge will help you develop new skills or meet new people. This will open up new avenues and opportunities to continue to grow as a physician and as a person. Face each challenge one at a time and you’ll be amazed at how far you’ve come in the four years of medical school.
Learn more about the Class of 2026:
- Match Day 2026 by the numbers
- Future anesthesiologist Athena Barrett selected as Stritch Commencement student speaker
- Aspiring physician leader Megi Maci receives President’s Medallion
May 2026