Maddison Morgan McLellan was a member of the Middlebury women’s soccer team, graduating in 2018 with a degree in biology and biochemistry. She is currently a second-year resident in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Stanford University.

How did your time at Middlebury and playing for the women’s soccer team help you develop into the person you are today?

My four years at Middlebury played a crucial part in my path to medicine. As part of the women’s soccer team, I gained community and friendships for life while learning how to work toward a common goal with 31 of my closest friends. Being a student-athlete taught me how to prioritize, delegate and focus on what is important. I spent countless hours studying on bus rides and in hotel rooms, and it was all worth it. Further, being pre-med at Middlebury was both a unique and amazing experience. I developed a close relationship with other student-athletes studying medicine (many of whom are also doctors). We supported each other, studied around our practice and game schedules and held each other accountable. I don't think I would have gotten to where I am today without them, and I am forever grateful for our collaboration. My two closest pre-med study buddies actually spoke at my wedding!

How has your orthopedic residency gone at Stanford?

Growing up in the Bay Area and doing research before medical school, working as a doctor at Stanford has been a dream of mine. When I was interviewing for orthopaedic surgery residency, I fell in love with the program, the people and the place. It was an easy first choice, and my family was delighted to have me return to the Bay Area (though with my surgery residency schedule, they often claim they saw me more when I was a medical student in Southern California). Working as a surgical resident is incredibly rewarding but also very challenging at times. Much like the Middlebury community, my Stanford co-residents are the best support system and I can’t imagine doing residency anywhere else. 

Do you feel it was fate that you found your husband here at Middlebury? What was the first interaction like, and how did your relationship grow from there? You also have a lovable black lab named Dakota. How has it been watching him grow up while also being a resident at Stanford?

My husband and I met during our first year at Middlebury. We both lived in Allen and were college athletes! We got engaged in August of 2020 during COVID. He then moved down to Southern California, where I was going to medical school, and we got a dog shortly thereafter. Dakota is a ball of energy but has been the best post-call cuddle buddy, running partner and companion for my husband. During my fourth year of medical school, she broke her leg while playing Frisbee, so I had a chance to practice my orthopedic skills early on with her casting and rehab! 

We got married in January 2022 in Napa Valley. Our wedding was a bit chilly and was moved outside at the last minute due to COVID, but it was an amazing day, and we were lucky enough to celebrate with many of our Midd friends and former teammates who came from near and far. 

How did your love for sourdough bread come about? Is there meaning behind naming the starter Stan?

I grew up in an Italian-American household, so cooking and baking have been a core value in my family. After college and in medical school, baking quickly went from a hobby to a passion and stress reliever. From our weekly sourdough loaf to creative ways to use my sourdough discard, baking in residency has become a staple. I am grateful for my husband, who is the tried and true taste tester for all my baking endeavors, and for all the nurses on our orthopedic unit who help eat all my projects. Some of my best bakes so far include croissants, lemon olive oil, and the chocolate cookie recipe that I spent COVID perfecting. 

You mentioned running four half-marathons after your collegiate soccer career ended. What prompted you to do these, and do you have any plans to run more in the future?

My husband Mark and I trained for our first half-marathon during the spring of our senior year at Middlebury in 2018. As we were both newly retired collegiate athletes, it gave us something to train for, and the energy from the larger Middlebury community during our run was electric, motivating me to sign up for another race weeks later. After college, I quickly took up running as my new athletic endeavor, running four half marathons in six months. Now, going on post-call runs with my husband and enjoying some California sunshine is a new tradition. 

What is your Midd Moment?

My Midd moment was probably running the Maple Run. Throughout those 13.1 miles and at the finish, I was cheered on by teammates, classmates, teachers, children I babysat; you name it, they were there. To see how the larger Middlebury community came together to support all the runners (and cook a pancake breakfast at the finish) was inspiring. My mini Middlebury moments were walking into a dining hall and always finding a friend, countless locker room sing-alongs and Dragone sunsets with my MWS squad, watching hockey games with my community friend and late nights in BiHall studying molecular biology and consuming massive amounts of popcorn. It’s hard to choose just one moment as my college experience was defined by so many, but I am grateful for them all! 

If you are interested in being a part of our Alumni Spotlight Series, please email sid@middlebury.edu for consideration.