From Undergrad to Match: M4s Michael and Yanelis Greenberg’s Journey in Love and Learning
By Kyra Letsinger
There is an old saying about young love that many pass off as nothing but a myth: “When you know you know.” Vanderbilt University School of Medicine M4 Yanelis Diaz Greenberg, on the other hand, is a firm believer – she experienced it firsthand in 2018 when she was only an undergrad at the University of Central Florida. After attending an event for pre-med students, Yanelis was stopped by a fellow student and his friend. From the moment Michael Greenberg introduced himself, Diaz Greenberg says it was love at first sight.
“I saw Michael and I fell in love,” Yanelis explained. “He just said ‘Hi, I’m Michael,’ and I was like, ‘you’re my dream man. I found his name and email on the listserv of the event invite, and three months later I followed him on Instagram and said, ‘Hey, I remember you,’ and the rest is history.”
When the two started officially dating in 2019, they had no idea it would not just be the start of a relationship, but also the beginning of a life-long partnership. From studying for the MCAT together to deciding on prospective medical schools to being accepted to VUSM together, each step of their equally ambitious journeys would from then on be taken together. Today, six years, three pets, and one Couples Match later, the two are more than ready to take on what comes next.
Balancing Bonding and Busy Schedules
Michael and Yanelis have become a bit of a power couple in their time in medical school. Aside from their rigorous studies and clinical work, the two have been active members of the VUSM community since their first years on campus. Yanelis has held leadership positions in the Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) and the Social Mission Committee (SMC), all while acting as the Class of 2025 President within the Council of Class Officers (CCO) for the past three years. Much like Yanelis, Michael’s ambitions also led him to several leadership roles, becoming a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) Interest Group leader and founding the 3D Printing in Medicine elective course.
Through all these extra-curricular involvements, the one both consider to be their most valuable endeavor is one the two pursued together: volunteering with and leading Shade Tree Clinic, a free, comprehensive health clinic run by Vanderbilt medical students. With the support of one another, the two have worked their way up the Shade Tree ladder, at one time both serving as department co-directors, Yanelis with the Psychiatry Clinic and Michael with the Orthopaedics and Physical Therapy Clinic.
Despite their busy schedules, the two say their relationship has only strengthened during their time in medical school. Their secret? Prioritizing communication and time together, no matter how brief.
“During our OB rotations, for instance, we were on opposite schedules,” said Michael. “But even on those days, we still made sure to just talk for a few minutes and ask about each other’s days. We always caught up and made sure everything important was being addressed before immediately saying, ‘goodnight, I love you’.”
The two say after finishing their quick daily chats, they always ended their long days with a “good night, I love you,” a reminder of obvious and endless support that would guide them to the exciting future to come.
Tackling Med School as a Unit
The journey through medical school is not often a straightforward one: rather, there are cycles of highs and lows that nearly all students must navigate. During the stress of exam season or exhaustion from clinical work, the two looked to each other for reassurance and encouragement, both from the perspective of a partner and a peer.
“I think we were able to push each other a lot,” said Michael. “There were definitely times where one of us wasn’t feeling motivated, and we would be able to go through it together, balance each other out, and provide inspiration and comfort. It was great having that support from someone who was going through the exact same thing.”
Alongside acting as mutual support systems, the two have also been each other’s largest cheerleaders. From being inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society to Yanelis finding her passion for the specialty of psychiatry and Michael finding his in PMR&R during their clerkships, the pair were there to celebrate every achievement as if it were their own. The ultimate highlight of the last four years, however, would not be found in an individual academic accomplishment, but in a shared decision to take their relationship to the next level.
In an elaborate proposal complete with sentimental mementos, a private space in downtown Nashville filled with flowers, and family and friends standing by to celebrate, Michael asked Yanelis to marry him in July 2023. After years of referring to him as her “pre-fiancé,” she accepted with an enthusiastic yes. Everyone, including their class of 2025 peers, could not contain their excitement.
“I sent the photo to the class group chat that same night,” said Yanelis. “Everyone went crazy because I had been joking about when Michael was going to propose since the first day of med school.”
Getting Ready for Residency: Together.
The support the Greenbergs had always relied on each other for would be more important than ever as they immediately began both wedding planning and preparing for Step 2 exams. Thankfully, their years of balancing busy schedules and working as a team to reach their goals had prepared them for the whirlwind to come. Ever the power couple, the two persevered, passing their Step 2 exam and marrying in a beautiful ceremony in nearby Lebanon, Tennessee on September 7, 2024.
The need for teamwork to balance the personal and professional did not end after their wedding, though; residency applications were due just four days after they returned from their honeymoon. As the two planned to participate in Couples Match, applying had to be a collaborative effort.
“We were literally at the airport in Hawaii working on our applications together,” said Yanelis. “We worked for what felt like 72 hours straight, finalizing our personal statements and CVs, and that was definitely the first challenge in our marriage. We went from the most relaxed we’d ever been in our lives to 72 hours of making huge decisions.”
As always, Michael and Yanelis’s support of one another allowed them to complete their applications and submit them to their dream programs. With Match Day now just over a month away, they hold the lessons learned in their team efforts close as they look toward residency.
“I think being a first-year resident is probably going to be the biggest transition we’ve gone through,” said Yanelis. “But I also think, because we have each other, we’re going to be able to transition quicker than we would have. I can’t wait to be able to have someone to talk and debrief with.”
One thing is for sure as they head into the unknown of their next four years of training: They’ll experience it as partners, just as they have the past six years. Just as Yanelis always knew they would
Because when you know, you know.