Madeleine “Maddie” Hatch, a lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force and a medical student in the T.H. Chan School of Medicine Class of 2024, has successfully matched early into a military residency program. Hatch is headed to Sacramento to train in emergency medicine at University of California, Davis.
“Since high school, I’ve had a strong desire to serve,” said Hatch. “I’m drawn to the tight-knit community within the Air Force, especially within the medical sector. The sense of camaraderie and familiarity among colleagues is something I’ve always valued, and the smaller size of the Air Force compared to other branches reinforces that closeness. Plus, let’s be honest, we have the coolest planes.”
“The opportunity to serve those who sacrifice for our country is an immense honor.”
Hatch is part of the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program, which pays for tuition in exchange for a period of service following graduation. Growing up in Wilbraham, the UMass Chan Medical School student was inspired to pursue medicine by her mother and a high school biology teacher, who doubled as an EMT and wove real-world experiences into his biology lessons.
“My mom was an athletic trainer and spoke with such passion about the human body and its capabilities,” said Hatch. “She was always talking about proper treatments after many of my sports injuries, which sparked my interest in studying the human body.”
Hatch recalls developing a profound appreciation for medicine and how knowledge evolves within the field. She confesses that watching “Grey’s Anatomy” when she was 16 heightened her desire to become a physician. The future doctor studied math and biology at Colby College.
“Receiving an email with my match placement was an incredibly surreal moment for me,” said Hatch. “Hearing where my flight mates from officer training matched made the moment feel real. Conversations about sneaking naps on our bedroom floors to preserve our beds during officer training to this pivotal moment brought me a sense of excitement. It was a poignant reminder of how far we’ve come and our shared commitment to futures in service.”
Upon graduation from UMass Chan, Hatch will be promoted to the rank of captain.
“The opportunity to serve those who sacrifice for our country is an immense honor,” Hatch said. “I’ve always admired the women and men who choose to wear the uniform. The opportunity to serve them and their families is something I’ll forever be grateful for.”
Students taking part in the National Resident Matching Program will learn where they have matched on March 15.
