By Lindsay Hughes
“There must be something in the water with our class,” Yulong Stokes remarked. “I feel like we have an abnormally high number of marriages!”
Indeed, the Whiddon College of Medicine Class of 2025 – a class of 68 medical students – includes six couples who are engaged or married.
Virginia Farley, too, noticed the trend in her class: “Who knew the Whiddon College of Medicine is also a matchmaker!”
The couples went through the National Resident Matching Program with the goal of staying together with their partners during residency training – a process referred to as “couples match.”
Last December, three members of the class who are serving in the military found out their residency placements.
On Match Day, March 21, the Class of 2025 convened at the USA Mitchell Center to discover their fates. This year, 46% of the class matched at programs in Alabama, including 18 students who matched at USA Health hospitals.
These are a few of their stories.
Andrew Stokes and Yulong (Huang) Stokes
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| Andrew and Yulong Stokes |
Yulong, originally from Fuzhou, China, always had an inclination toward medicine, but the years of schooling ahead seemed daunting. She found her way back to her first passion while working as a scribe in Providence Hospital’s emergency department. She went on to graduate from the University of South Alabama with degrees in biomedical sciences and philosophy.
Andrew, from Mobile, initially pursued engineering but, after taking an EMT course, he became interested in practicing medicine and patient care. His curiosity led him to earn degrees in emergency medical services and biology from USA.
The two met early in their academic careers at South – in a general chemistry class their freshman year. They formed a strong friendship through studying together and their involvement in campus ministry, eventually growing into a relationship in October 2020.
When Andrew took a Chinese class, “I frequently asked for her help — definitely not just an excuse to spend more time with her,” he quipped.
Andrew worked as a paramedic while preparing for medical school. Yulong’s early acceptance into the Whiddon College of Medicine made Andrew’s decision to attend the same medical school a no-brainer. Before their Step 1 exam, Andrew proposed to Yulong, and they tied the knot in December 2023, during winter break of their third year.
“Soon after, I had the incredible opportunity to visit China, where I met her extended family — an experience I will always cherish,” he said.
Yulong said matching as a couple “has made our options paradoxically both more limited and more expansive. As challenging as this process has been, I am elated that we are going through this together. Overall, I feel pretty stoked (no pun intended) to find out where we end up.”
The Stokes learned they will stay in the Mobile area. He matched in family medicine at South Baldwin Regional Medical Center, and she matched in neurology at USA Health.
William Smith and Virginia Farley
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| Will Smith and Virginia Farley |
Virginia, on the other hand, found her calling later. During her undergraduate studies at Sewanee: The University of the South, she volunteered at free clinics in rural areas of the Cumberland Plateau. There, the Birmingham native realized the profound shortage of primary care providers in underserved communities and decided to become part of the solution.
As a medical student at the Whiddon College of Medicine, she has participated in the Primary Care Pathway, which enhances the educational experience by preparing students to serve populations in rural and underserved areas.
Will and Virginia’s connection began on the second day of M1 orientation when they sat next to each other in the auditorium. Will, eager to break the ice, shared his love for making French press coffee, only to nervously choke on his water. Despite the awkward start, they quickly bonded, joining study groups in which their friends marveled at how well they clicked. By the end of their first semester, they were inseparable.
In July 2024, amid the stress of preparing for Step 2, Will proposed to Virginia, offering a welcome break from studying to celebrate. They look forward to their wedding on May 17, 2025.
“We are forever thankful to the Whiddon COM for bringing us together,” Virginia said.
The couple matched at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, where he will train in internal medicine, and she will train in family medicine.
Nicholas Friend and Mary Claire Carlton
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| Nick Friend and Mary Claire Carlton |
At the opposite end of the spectrum, Mary Claire, originally from Letohatchee, Alabama, grew up with aspirations of becoming a fashion designer – and with a fear of blood. But after some personal and family experiences with medicine in high school, her passion for healthcare was sparked. She earned a degree in microbiology from Auburn University.
Both chose the Whiddon College of Medicine for medical school, valuing the opportunity to stay close to their families in Alabama. They quickly found a community who made the journey even more rewarding.
“We have loved being here – particularly because our class is full of the most wonderful friends in the world – and would absolutely choose it again,” Mary Claire said.
In their first year of medical school, they started out as friends through sports like tennis and intramural volleyball. Nick asked Mary Claire out “at least five times” before his persistence eventually paid off. After serenading Mary Claire at a karaoke night, she finally agreed to go out with him. By their third year, they were engaged and married, and now they are expecting a baby in April.
The pair reflected on the challenges of the couples match and how the process would have been insurmountable without the guidance of their advisors at USA.
“Between the couples match, an incoming tiny human, and our two very energetic dogs, we have given up on being nervous and are just choosing to take each day as it comes,” Mary Claire said.
After opening their envelopes together on stage, they announced they will stay at USA Health, where he matched in internal medicine, and she matched in general surgery.
Sidney Bailey and Addison (Barchie) Bailey
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| Sidney and Addison Bailey |
Addison of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, always knew medicine was her calling, inspired by her father’s career as a physician. She found her niche in family medicine, drawn to the relationships she could build with patients and their families. She graduated from the University of South Alabama with a degree in biology.
Their paths led them both to the Whiddon College of Medicine, where they met on the first day of M1 orientation.
“Our last names were already side by side alphabetically, so we ended up being anatomy lab partners,” Addison said. “We started studying together and our relationship just continued to blossom.”
By the end of their first year, they were engaged in Juneau, Alaska, and by the end of their second year, they celebrated with a beautiful wedding in Pensacola, Florida. Most recently, at the end of their third year, they welcomed their son, Bryson, “just in time to help us study for Step 2 CK,” Addison said.
Although the couples match process was overwhelming at times, they used some of their in-person interviews as opportunities for family road trips. Now, they are filled with excitement for the next chapter of their careers.
“We have been through a lot of major life events during our time in medical school,” Addison said, “and, although it has been quite challenging at times, we would not change it for the world.”
The family will be staying in the Mobile area, as he matched in diagnostic radiology at USA Health, and she matched in family medicine at South Baldwin Regional Medical Center.
Alexander Lund and Hope (Harris) Lund
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| Hope and Alexander Lund |
Hope, originally from Opelika, Alabama, had her heart set on becoming a pediatrician since she was 8 years old. She earned a degree in biomedical sciences from Auburn University.
Their paths converged at the Whiddon College of Medicine. Alexander felt an immediate connection with the school during his interview, appreciating the smaller class size and the charm of the city. Hope had heard about the Whiddon COM through pre-med meetings at Auburn University and was drawn to it for its close-knit community, which was only confirmed during her interview day.
At the start of their M1 year, they sat at the same small group table but weren’t particularly close. That all changed when they started crossing paths at social events, realizing they enjoyed each other’s company. From there, their relationship grew. They dressed up as Beauty and the Beast for the class Halloween party, followed by their first official date at Red or White.
“We went from dating to engaged to married over the next two and a half years of medical school,” Hope said. “We have enjoyed being on this adventure together – studying hard, conquering exams, applying to residency, making memories with friends, and traveling on our breaks.”
As Match Day approached, they were filled with both nervousness and excitement, knowing their journey together is just beginning.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to match as a couple given that we do not see ourselves continuing this journey apart,” Hope said. “Overall, we are excited because of the adventure that lies ahead.”
The couple will be moving to Gainesville, Florida, where they both matched at the University of Florida – he in internal medicine and she in pediatrics.
View the full Match Day results.
