Answering the call to serve

In a spotlight series, the University of Louisville School of Medicine is celebrating students selected for the Military Match, a program that pairs future physicians with residency training programs within the U.S. Armed Forces. In addition to completing rigorous clinical training, these residents also serve as commissioned officers, preparing to provide care to service members and their families around the world. For the first time in more than a decade, the University of Louisville has an all-female Military Match class. Rebecca Black, Taylore Baker and Talore Gebhart all planning to enter the U.S. Army, serve as a historic representation of the next generation of military medicine. 

Among the University of Louisville School of Medicine students participating in the 2026 Military Match is Becca Black, who matched into the Emergency Medicine Residency at Madigan Army Medical Center in Lakewood, Washington.  

One of the largest military hospitals on the West Coast, Madigan is also one of only three designated Level II trauma centers in the U.S. Army Medical Department. The program offers a rigorous environment where physicians regularly care for complex cases. 

This placement was Black’s top choice; she was ecstatic when she received the news about her acceptance. “The culture of mentorship, professionalism and camaraderie stood out to me,” Black said of the program. 

Her decision to pursue military medicine stems from a long-standing desire to serve something larger than herself.  For her, the military wasn't just a career choice; it was a calling. By combining clinical expertise with military service, she hopes to provide life-saving care to patients at their most vulnerable moments while contributing to a global mission. 

While each branch of the military serves a similar purpose in ensuring our country's safety, they are guided by distinct values. For the Army, these are Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage (LDRSHIP).  

For Black, those principles are the blueprint for her professional life. “These values closely align with the kind of physician and leader I strive to become,” she said. “Selfless Service and Duty resonate most deeply with me, as medicine is not simply a career; it is a commitment to show up consistently for others, even when it is difficult.” 

That commitment carries a profound responsibility, specifically when it comes to the patient population she will serve.  

“Every patient deserves the highest standard of care,” Black said. “But there is something especially meaningful in caring for service members and their families; people who have chosen lives of sacrifice and service. It motivates me to continually improve my skills so I can support their health and mission readiness." 

Military residency programs also require trainees to balance two demanding roles. In addition to completing the grueling hours required of physicians in training, residents simultaneously train as military officers, learning to lead teams, make decisions under pressure and navigate the uncertainty of real-world operational environments.  

Black views that dual responsibility not as a challenge, but as an opportunity.  

 “I am excited for the opportunity to train in a system that emphasizes both medical excellence and leadership development,” she said. 

Beyond the clinical and tactical challenges, Black recognizes that her presence in this field carries a deeper significance. Military medicine, and the military itself, has historically been male dominated. Throughout her journey, she has always found inspiration in the women who came before her and demonstrated what leadership in those spaces can look like.  

“Representation matters because visibility shapes possibility,” she said. 

Now, as part of a group of women entering the in the Military Match program from the UofL School of Medicine, Black hopes to continue normalizing the presence of women in leadership roles within both medicine and the military. 

She is entering this next step of her life with an inspiring philosophy she plans to carry throughout her career: leadership is not just about rank; it is about lifting others as you climb.  

The University of Louisville is incredibly proud to have a part in training such dedicated leaders and looks forward to seeing how Becca Black’s commitment to selfless service will impact the lives of soldiers and their families at Madigan Army Medical Center and beyond.