Ginger Zee is focusing on the bright side. The Good Morning America meteorologist shared exciting family news on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 to her 1.2 million Instagram followers.
In a video, Ginger revealed that her mom, Dawn Zuidgeest-Craft, matched for her residency after completing medical school at 72-years-old. While Dawn has graduated just yet – her ceremony is in May – her proud daughter bragged about her being "Guinness Book [record] to become an MD" in her seventies.
While Ginger and her three siblings cautioned their mom, saying: "Listen lady, you're in your early seventies, I don't know if it's going to happen…if it should happen." But, this was what Dawn wanted.
© Instagram"She was a neonatal nurse practitioner for 45 years, she's highly educated but in her retirement, all she wanted to do was complete the goal that she had always wanted," Ginger explained. "And that [goal] was to become a doctor."
In September 2024, Dawn opened up about her decision to go to medical school later in life to ABC. She noted that while it was always a dream, after her husband Carl Craft experienced a "very serious injury," that dream became even more important.
Dawn explained: "I really always wanted to go, but honestly, I had my family as priority. And I didn't do what I really wanted to do, but now I am. And it's really been an amazing experience."
© InstagramGinger shared the photo of her mom's match certificate, blurring out the program where Dawn will be in residency, but showing off that she chose to go into family medicine. Dawn will start her residency this summer, and Ginger "can't believe it in the best way."
"It's a lesson for everyone that you really can do anything you put your mind to," the journalist said.
Reactions to Dawn's big news
The elation for Ginger's mom wasn't limited to her daughter. Ginger's fans shared their excitement for Dawn in the comments. One person wrote: "Congratulations to your mom. It's never too late to get a new degree or start a new goal. She is an inspiration to us."
© GC ImagesAnother commented: "That is AWESOME!!! Congrats!" Ginger's fellow meteorologist, Danielle Breezy, congratulated Dawn, writing: "That’s amazing!"
Ginger's relationship with her mom
© Instagra,It's clear to anyone who watches GMA that Ginger loves her mom. In November 2025, Dawn and Carl visited the meteorologist backstage at GMA. Ginger shared their visit to Instagram, writing: "Not every day I get to have my parents with me at work!"
She added: "Mom is finishing up a clinical rotation at Sloan Kettering and kids have enjoyed having grandpa around. She graduates with her MD in the spring – still pretty wild and we are all so proud."
