March 21, 2025

The College of Medicine celebrated Match Day, when fourth-year medical students learn where they will do their residency training, with the largest class in its history and at two campuses for the first time.

The College of Medicine at Tower Health’s medical students, who were the first cohort to matriculate at the West Reading regional medical campus, joined their University City classmates in this next, vital phase of their careers as physicians. Match Day takes place annually on the third Friday in March at noon nationwide, as thousands of medical students across the country open their envelopes to reveal their residency match results.

Each College of Medicine campus came together to support each other during their emotional and high-stakes events.

View Philadelphia Match Day Photo Album

View West Reading Match Day Photo Album

In Philadelphia, over 200 students were present, anxiously awaiting the reveal of their matches. Leon McCrea II, MD, MPH, Deborah J. Tuttle, MD and John P. Piper, MD Vice Dean for Educational Affairs, addressed the group, saying, “This class and those in West Reading represent the richness of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives that make our profession stronger. Match Day is more than just a transition to residency — it is a testament to the resilience, perseverance and excellence of our students. You are the future of a more community-focused and inclusive health care system, and I could not be prouder to see you take this next step.”

At the celebration in West Reading, Walter H. and Leonore Annenberg Dean and senior vice president of medical affairs Charles B. Cairns, MD, joined Cecilia Smith, DO, associate dean, Tower Health Campus, as well as senior leaders from Tower Health, in congratulating the inaugural class, who began there in 2021 as first-years.

“Our College of Medicine at Tower Health medical students have set the foundation for community service that was strongly needed when they first entered medical school here four years ago,” said Dr. Smith. “Our students have had the insight, in a short period of time, to grasp needs — some simple, some more profound — that are leaving a positive mark on the community. Many of these outreach efforts are continuing by those in the classes entering now.”

After a rigorous interviewing process, graduating medical students submit a list of programs — ranked in order of preference of where they would like to train — to the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). Program directors across the country also submit a list of applicants whom they have interviewed and would like to train, in order of preference. The NRMP uses a mathematical algorithm to place applicants into their most preferred residency and fellowship positions at programs that also prefer them.

Odeosa Idahor, MD class of 2025, who is going into anesthesiology, said, “It’s important to be yourself in the interviews. Lean on the resources that Drexel provides to help you prepare for the match process.”

Match Day Stats

297 College of Medicine students participated in the match. 88 students will train as physicians in Pennsylvania. The next most popular states for class of 2025 residency matches are:

• New York, with 38 students
• California, with 25 students

Of our upcoming graduates, 37% are going into primary care. The specialties that the class of 2025 are pursuing the most are:

• Internal medicine, with 55 students matching
• Anesthesiology, with 26 students matching
• Emergency Medicine, with 23 students matching
• Family Medicine, with 23 students matching

Completing a postgraduate residency program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education is one of the requirements for obtaining a medical license.

“The journey ahead is as difficult as it is rewarding,” advised Bisan Salhi, MD, PhD, associate dean for student affairs, community health and inclusive excellence, to the students in Match Day. “You'll be pushed to your limits, but in the process, you'll realize your limits are beyond what you thought. Remember to be punctual, ask for help and work hard!”