Excitement and anticipation quickly turned into celebration on Match Day as Alaska WWAMI fourth-year student Alaina Prince learned where she will begin the next phase of her medical training. Surrounded by classmates and supporters, Prince discovered she matched into obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Missouri in Columbia.
A lifelong Alaskan, Prince grew up in Anchorage and has long envisioned a career rooted in compassionate, patient-centered care. On Match Day, that vision came one step closer to reality.
“I am incredibly excited for Match Day! I can’t wait to find out where I get to start putting roots down and start the next chapter of my life!” she shared ahead of the big day, capturing the anticipation that would soon turn into celebration.
Prince’s path to OB-GYN was shaped by both personal experience and hands-on training. Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at a young age, she developed an early understanding of the vulnerability patients can feel and the lasting impact of empathetic care. That perspective stayed with her throughout medical school and helped guide her choice of specialty.
During her third-year clinical training in Wenatchee, Prince found her calling. Immersed in obstetrics, she embraced every opportunity to be part of the birthing process, even returning on weekends to gain additional experience. The work resonated deeply.
“I was hooked after the first week of the rotation and knew at my core that I was meant to pursue Ob-Gyn,” she said.
For Prince, the specialty offers something uniquely meaningful: the chance to support patients through some of life’s most significant moments. Her experiences delivering babies and assisting in surgeries reinforced that sense of purpose and confirmed she had found the right path.
Looking ahead, Prince is eager to begin residency training in Missouri while keeping her long-term goals close to home. She hopes to one day return to Alaska, bringing her skills and passion back to the community that shaped her.
Match Day marked not just a milestone, but the beginning of a new chapter, one grounded in purpose, compassion, and the promise of caring for patients at every stage of life.