Boris Anyama, MD, Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine in the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and a pain medicine physician at UPMC Horizon/UPMC Jameson, will present two sessions at the 2026 Annual Medical Education Conference (AMEC), hosted by the Student National Medical Association (SNMA). The annual conference will draw more than 3,000 pre-medical students, physicians, alumni, and healthcare professionals from across the country and be held April 1–5, 2026, at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, PA.
Dr. Anyama's path to medicine was anything but conventional. He played college football at the University of Louisiana before signing with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent linebacker in 2015. When his athletic career ended, he set his sights on medicine — drawn to anesthesiology by a deep interest in pharmacology and physiology, and by the collaborative environment of the operating room. "It reminded me of football," he said, "where success depends on everyone doing their job at a high level to achieve a shared outcome." His interest in pain medicine was further shaped by watching former teammates navigate chronic pain, often without access to appropriate or sustainable care — an experience that continues to drive his commitment to evidence-based treatment.
Dr. Anyama will draw on his football career in his session "From the NFL to the Operating Arena: The Playbook for Success in Medicine," on Friday, April 3, 9:30–10:20 a.m. He will be joined on the panel by two other former NFL players, Nate Hughes, MD, a cardiothoracic anesthesiologist at the VA Medical Center in Atlanta, Georgia, and Dontez Ford, MBA, a senior clinical analyst at a multibillion-dollar medical technology company. His message to attendees is straightforward: find what drives you and pursue it with intention. "Success looks different for everyone," he noted, "shaped by their own values and goals."
On Thursday, April 2, 4:00–4:50 p.m., Dr. Anyama will also be on a panel titled "MATCHing, SOAPing, and Beyond," a practical session for medical students preparing to navigate the residency match process. "SOAPing" refers to the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP), a structured process run by the National Resident Matching Program during Match Week that allows eligible applicants who did not match in the main residency match to apply to unfilled residency positions. "The Match process can be overwhelming and uncertain," said Dr. Anyama. "I wanted to help provide clarity, perspective, and practical guidance to help students navigate it with confidence."
AMEC offers educational workshops and programs focused on academic and clinical success, professional development, and personal growth, along with networking opportunities with physicians, residency program representatives, and healthcare partners from across the country. SNMA is committed to connecting the next generation of physicians with experienced mentors and alumni.