NEW HAVEN, Conn. — A long road of hurdles overcome, a Utah couple graduated together from Yale University’s School of Medicine this week as the only married pair of their class Monday.

Josh and Madison Hustedt, alumni of Jordan High and East High respectively, officially became doctors after completing their education as classmates.

“The odds were astronomical, but they did it,” said Josh’s father, Barry Hustedt, of Sandy. “It took a tremendous amount of sacrifice on both of their parts. Most people would have changed course, but they knew what they wanted and had the confidence, skill, and persistence to make it happen.”

On graduation day, the couple’s families attended the commencement ceremony in New Haven, Conn. Madison’s parents, Peter and Michelle Morgan, reside in Salt Lake City, and Josh’s parents, Barry and Linda Hustedt, live in Sandy.

“It was really fun to share that moment with our family,” said Josh Hustedt, 28. “Our families are really important to us. The whole reason we went through medical school together was for our future family.”

Graduating together from one of the world’s leading centers of medical education culminates many years of the Hustedts’ dedication to each other and determination to accomplish their goals.

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Jordan High and East High alumniA gifted athlete, Josh Hustedt was also known for his academic prowess during his high school years.

“The thing I remember most about Josh was he was an excellent student. I wasn’t surprised at all to hear that he got a scholarship to Stanford,” said Mark Petersen, science department chairman at Jordan High School, who taught Josh’s anatomy class. “It hasn’t surprised me that he’s done so well.”

Josh graduated as a Beetdigger in 2002, while Madison, 27, graduated from East High in 2004.

“Madison has always been a go-getter. She’s always talked about going to medical school as long as I can remember,” said Abigail Adams Wiest, of Austin, Texas, who first met Madison in kindergarten.

Like their mothers before them, Madison and Abigail attended an undergraduate study abroad program in London together.

Madison's mother remembers her daughter's longtime determination.

“She was always really bright and very driven for her future,” said Michelle Morgan. “She was reading by kindergarten; she’s a quick learner.”

A match made in medical heaven

After returning from a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Canada, Josh continued his studies in human biology at Stanford University in 2006.

As a visiting scholar at Brigham Young University for two semester, he met Madison Morgan. She was attending Brigham Young University as a neuroscience major.

“When I first asked her out, I didn’t even know she wanted to go to medical school,” Josh said. “On our first date, she started talking about her dedication to her family and career. Mattie’s a very dedicated person, and I love that most about her.”

In July 2007, the pair were married in the LDS Salt Lake City Temple.

They kicked off their lifelong dedication to medicine with a two-month honeymoon in the Republic of Cameroon, Africa, conducting health interventions to prevent malaria.

Sacrifices along the way

After their time in Africa, Madison left her full-ride scholarship at BYU to finish her schooling at San Jose State University so the newlyweds could be together in California.

“Mattie gave up everything to go live with Josh,” recalls Barry Hustedt. “She left her family, friends. Leaving BYU lengthened out the time it took her to graduate, and she had to pay for school to get on the same path Josh was on.”

Josh was on a track scholarship at Stanford, and his meets often meant time apart, often four-day trips at a time.

“It was really hard because we were newly married,” Madison said. “I was so excited about our future together, I think that’s how I got through it.”

She remembers Josh leaving his dining hall card for her so she could get meals in the student union.

“He took care of me, even when he was away.”

Taking a leap of faith as a team

As the Hustedts planned for the 2008-09 academic year, they both applied for a number of medical schools.

The challenge came when they weren’t accepted at the same universities.

They decided to focus first on Josh’s education. He was accepted to Yale, Dartmouth and the University of Utah, but they weren’t willing to give up Madison’s dream of going to medical school. Choosing which school to attend was a leap of faith for both of them.

“It was really hard from my perspective. I had to choose a place where I thought it would work well for us as a family, and also a place where I thought Mattie could get in the next year,” recalls Josh.

The couple met with the dean of admissions at all three universities, and prayed for guidance in their decision.

“They were really supportive of us at Yale, and so we went for it,” Josh said.

During Josh’s first year of medical school, Madison worked in two labs on Yale’s campus and applied for the following school year.

The couple was elated to learn Yale accepted her as one of the 100 students for the following year. Madison started as a first-year medical student when Josh was a second year for the 2009-10 school year.

While Madison completed her second year, Josh took a year off and completed a master of health science degree, so that she could catch up and they could graduate together.

Completing the rigors of Yale together

The couple attended classes together during their third and fourth years as medical students. During those years, they also completed an average of 50 hours a week of medical rotations at the hospital.

“To try to keep the same schedules, we did all of our rotations together, but on a different team,” Madison said. “For example, when we were on pediatrics rotations, I would be on the pediatrics G.I. team, while Josh was on the pediatrics orthopedics team.”

The couple studied together for board exams together, going over cases and diagnoses.

“I think we learned the most by coming home and talking about what we did at the hospital,” Madison said. “It was like I got to be in two places at once because whatever surgery Josh had seen during the day, I got to learn about it when we got home.”

Amid their busy schedules, the couple made time to take camping trips, go bike riding, visit the Connecticut beach, and spend time with their friends.

The next chapter in residency

On residency “match day” at Yale School of Medicine this spring, the Hustedts found a quiet corner to open their envelopes together. They knew that moment would determine where they’d live for the next several years.

The Hustedts will complete their residency at Banner Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix. Josh will specialize in orthopedic surgery, while Madison’s focus will be obstetrics and gynecology.

“They work together for the good of each other,” Wiest said. “Sometimes it means one sacrifices during a certain play, but ultimately they win the game.”

Crystalee Beck is a writer and traveler who lives with her husband in Ogden. She celebrates words at delightedtowrite.com.

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