It was a red carpet affair for COMP-Northwest’s Class of 2026.
The Lebanon medical students walked through glittering black streamers and onto a red carpet that featured each student’s class picture on a star, Hollywood style. Other complementary decorations in the room made it obvious this was a special event, thanks to the decorating committee led by Katelyn Williamson and Natalija Stern.
COMP-Northwest doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) students set to graduate this year joined other graduating medical students across the nation at the same time on Friday, March 20, to learn which residency program they matched with.
“Match Day is a significant milestone for our fourth-year osteopathic medical students as they learn where they will spend the next several years completing their residency training,” said Emily Campbell, communications specialist for WesternU.
In Lebanon, approximately half of the 101 DO graduates gathered together at Boulder Falls Event Center to learn their residency fate. Others choose to take a more private approach because it can be a very special, emotional moment for them, Campbell said.
Past students at the Lebanon campus have oft-repeated a well-known metaphor that going through the college is like drinking from a water hose, but most find a way to make it happen, even when they have children.
Kiana Fincher, specializing in family medicine, was among 12 other students from her class who went through the college while raising children.
“The biggest blessing has been my husband (Brandon),” she said. “He stays at home with our kiddos and takes care of everything that I can’t, but we have been very adaptable throughout school and kind of making things work where we need to. That has looked really different in each year of med school; we kind of adjust with whatever we need to be doing.”
Fincher came to Lebanon from southern Oregon, but only after the fact did she learn her own father was born in Lebanon’s hospital just across the street from the college.
Of her three children, Eli, 2, and Eleanor, 3 months, were born at Albany General during her COMP-Northwest education. Her oldest, Blake, is 5. Her children are no stranger to the Class of 2026, as they attended all the after school events with their mom.
“They’ve been passed around this class since the day they were born, so we consider this entire class to be part of our extended family, and they’ve been a huge support,” Fincher said.
During this particular event, the two boys flitted about the table, picking at their plates of food, while Eleanor found comforting arms by a couple of adoring “moms.”
Campbell explained that graduating students apply and interview for several different residency programs, and this is the day they look forward to to find out where they will be going. A majority of COMP-Northwest students match with their preferred program. This year, 98% of the Class of 2026 matched with their preferred program.
Prepared by a countdown timer, the room went silent as each student held their large red envelope and carefully tore open the seal, then read the words on the enclosed certificate.
Fincher’s read “Cascades East Family Medicine” in Klamath Falls, Ore.
It was her first choice, leading to smiles, congratulations, a little bit of tears and a couple of nearby kids who were oblivious to the significance of the moment.