University of Virginia alumna Paige Madden – best known for her Olympic exploits in the pool – is continuing her journey in medicine, studying to be a physician assistant at Stanford University’s School of Medicine as a Knight-Hennessy Scholar.
“Medicine has always been in my blood,” she said. “My father is a physician, and I grew up looking up to him and poring over his medical journals. My baseline fascination, as well as my desire to work on a team, nurtured by my experiences with sports, makes it a natural next chapter that I couldn’t be more excited about.”
Madden, a 2021 kinesiology graduate from UVA, earned a graduate certificate in clinical exercise physiology from Loughborough University in England. She is also a three-time Olympic medal-winning swimmer who represented Team USA at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Games. She is a world record holder, a former captain of Team USA and a four-time NCAA champion at Virginia. She received USA Swimming’s Perseverance Award in 2024.
“Going into medicine was always a part of the plan, but my road to get here took some turns I didn’t anticipate,” Madden said. “Qualifying for two Olympics definitely wasn’t on my radar when I began my first year at UVA, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. Those experiences taught me so much about myself that I’ll carry into my practice as a provider.”
Madden, who has lived with Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune disorder that affects the thyroid, thrives on challenges. She serves as an ambassador for the Autoimmune Association, promoting healthcare policy reform on Capitol Hill, and is a dedicated water safety advocate. She is also a motivational speaker who shares her journey of battling Hashimoto’s disease to inspire resilience and mental health awareness.
Former UVA swimming star and Olympic medalist Paige Madden is attending Stanford University as a Knight-Hennessy Scholar. (Photo by Carolyn Fong Photography)
Madden said she has learned that she is “more resilient than I ever gave myself credit for and that there is so much to life outside of swimming.”
“I also learned that vulnerability isn’t weakness,” she said. “For the longest time, I thought admitting having Hashimoto’s would make me seem weak, but finally speaking about it made me feel more empowered than ever.
“I’ve always been intrinsically motivated. I love pushing my limits and seeking new challenges, whether in sport, healthcare or everyday life. I also love UVA’s ‘never stop learning’ mentality. That’s something that will resonate with me for the rest of my career. When it comes to Hashimoto’s, this is just an obstacle that I have to overcome. I don’t let it limit me in the things I set out to do. Ultimately, what really drives me is knowing there’s always more to learn, always a patient who deserves someone willing to dig deeper.”
At UVA, Madden was president of the Encore Club, a service organization dedicated to enriching the lives of hospice patients and assisted-living facility residents. She was also a member of Run Charlottesville, Student-Athlete Mentors and Student-Athletes Committed to Honor, and tutored local students through Madison House.
