March 25, 2026

On Friday, March 20, 2026, proud faculty, friends and family joined the College of Medicine MD Class of 2026 to celebrate Match Day, an annual event where fourth-year medical students learn where they will be placed for their residency training. Participating in both Philadelphia and West Reading, Drexel MD students joined thousands of medical students nationwide to open their envelopes and reveal their residency match results.

View photos on Facebook

In Philadelphia, 250 students and approximately 1,000 guests were present, anxiously waiting to open their envelopes. Charles B. Cairns, MD, the Walter H. and Leonore Annenberg Dean of the College of Medicine, senior vice president of medical affairs at Drexel University and senior vice president, Drexel Health Operations, addressed the group, saying, “Every year, Match Day is not just a celebration of your hard work, dedication and service. It is an opportunity to reflect on all aspects of your time at Drexel, both the challenging and successful ones.”

In West Reading, 40 students and their guests were present and 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, “Match Day is a day of joy, anticipation and profound life reflection for fourth-year medical students. As you uncover the locations and specialties that will shape the next phase of your medical careers, it’s also a moment to reflect on your purpose within the medical field.”

After a rigorous interview process, graduating medical students submit a list of programs — ranked in order of preference — to the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). Program directors across the country also submit a list of applicants that they have interviewed and would like to train, also in order of preference. The NRMP uses an algorithm to match applicants into their most compatible residency and fellowship positions.

Image courtesy of Grace Fox Media

For Coral Caceres, MD ’26, who matched at Tower Health Reading Hospital for her OB/GYN residency, Match Day was an opportunity to reflect on her experience as a first-generation student. “My journey in medicine has not been linear. I’ve faced academic setbacks, moments of failure and periods where I questioned whether I truly belonged in this field,” she said. “There were many days when I felt overwhelmed and lost sight of the bigger picture, especially while navigating the pressures of medicine as a first-generation student. At the same time, that journey has shaped me in profound ways. Match Day felt like the culmination of so much more than just years of training — it represented becoming the first doctor in my family and officially joining the 6% of Hispanic/Latinx physicians in the United States.”

Amba Viswanathan, MD ’26, who matched into general surgery, was ecstatic with her results. “My desire to go into general surgery was inspired first by my love of being in the OR during clinical rotations,” she said. “I knew I wanted to go into a specialty that allows me to work with my hands and be with patients in their most vulnerable moments.”

Viswanathan matched into Cooper University Hospital in Camden, New Jersey. “This program stuck out to me for several reasons,” she said. “The residents get to operate early and often and get a lot of autonomy in the OR. They all seem to get along well and promote a positive and healthy environment, and there is a strong fellowship match, ample research opportunities and it’s in a great location.”

For Benjamin Haslund-Gourley, MD/PhD ’26, seven years of work led to Friday’s Match Day celebration. “Securing a spot at my first-choice program feels immensely gratifying,” he said. He matched in the UC San Diego Internal Medicine Residency program. “I owe much of this success to the unique opportunities provided by Drexel, where multidisciplinary collaboration, strong clinical training and research excellence have formed the foundation of my career.”

Dean Cairns left the class with a message of encouragement about their bright futures. “The world is a much different place now than it was when you entered medical school, and no doubt it will continue to evolve, presenting many opportunities for growth and change,” he said. “Your grit, adaptability and positivity in the face of both personal and academic challenges have already been remarkable, and we are confident you will continue to thrive.”

Match Day Stats

290 College of Medicine students participated in the match — 250 in Philadelphia and 40 in West Reading. 84 students will train as physicians in Pennsylvania. The next most popular states for class of 2026 residency matches are:

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

Of our upcoming graduates, 33% are going into primary care. The specialties that the class of 2026 are pursuing the most are:

• Internal Medicine, with 59 students matching
• Anesthesiology, with 24 students matching
• Emergency Medicine, with 23 students matching
• Family Medicine, with 19 students matching
• Psychiatry, with 19 students matching