December marks match season for fourth-year medical students in the armed services. They learn the residency programs where they will continue their training as active-duty physicians after earning their medical degrees in May.
Congratulations to the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine’s military matches!
Rachel Summers - Army
Age: 27
Hometown: Naples, FL
Undergrad College: University of Mary Washington
Specialty: Dermatology
Residency Match: Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
Why did you choose this specialty?
“Dermatology blends pattern recognition, precision, and meaningful patient relationships- qualities that resonate with me. A family history of melanoma sparked my early interest, and research and clinical time reinforced my passion. It’s a specialty where I can make a real impact on both health and quality of life.”
What do you hope to contribute to service members, veterans or military families through your chosen specialty?
“I hope to enhance readiness and well-being by helping service members stay healthy in all environments. Dermatologic conditions are common in the military, and I want to provide care that keeps members mission-ready while supporting veterans and their families with accessible, compassionate treatment.”
Sebastian Alarcon - Navy
Age: 28
Hometown: Miami, FL
Undergrad College: FIU
Specialty: General Surgery
Residency Match: Naval Medical Center San Diego
Why did you choose this specialty?
“I am drawn to the operating room, decisive problem-solving, and the ability to have an immediate, tangible impact on patients. I enjoy the responsibility that comes with surgical care and thrive in high-acuity, hands-on environments. Surgery challenges me technically, mentally, and emotionally in a way that feels deeply fulfilling.”
What do you hope to contribute to service members, veterans or military families through your chosen specialty?
“Through general surgery, I hope to provide dependable, high-quality surgical care to service members and veterans when they are at their most vulnerable. I want to be a surgeon they can trust—someone who understands the physical demands of military service and treats patients with urgency, competence, and respect, while also supporting the families who stand behind them.”
Adam Roitman - Air Force
Age: 26
Hometown: Greenwich, CT
Undergrad College: Duke University
Specialty: Emergency Medicine
Residency Match: Denver Health Medical Center
Why did you choose this specialty?
“You get to do a little bit of everything. It’s a great balance of thinking and doing—you use your hands in procedures such as intubation and chest tube placement, while also having the opportunity to work through complex medical management, including conditions like heart failure, overdoses, and kidney disease.”
What does serving as a physician in the military mean to you?
“I believe being a military physician is one of the most meaningful ways to serve diverse populations. In addition to caring for U.S. troops, I have the opportunity to practice medicine during humanitarian operations supported by the U.S. military. As a military emergency medicine physician, I am also directly involved in advancing the field, as many emergency medicine practices and technologies originate from the battlefield and military medicine.”
Thomas Dieffenthaller - Army
Specialty: Translational Year
Residency Match: San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium