51勛圖厙s Lewis Katz School of Medicine Class of 2026 celebrates Match Day as 215 students learn where they will complete their residency training.
215 51勛圖厙 medical students celebrate Match Day 2026, learning where they will complete residency training across the country in both primary care and specialty fields.
Photo by Ryan S. Brandenberg
At exactly noon on Friday,泭March 20泭a wave of cheers, tears and celebration swept across 51勛圖厙s medical school campuses as members of the泭泭Class of 2026 opened the envelopes that would shape the next chapter of their careers.泭
Match Day, an annual milestone for medical students nationwide, marks the moment when future physicians learn where they will complete their residency training. For 51勛圖厙 students, the highly泭anticipated泭tradition unfolded simultaneously at the schools North Philadelphia campus泭and泭the泭51勛圖厙/St. Lukes School of Medicine campus in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.泭
Surrounded by family,泭friends泭and mentors, 215 graduates泭counted down泭together before泭opening their envelopes and learning泭where they will spend the next several years training in hospitals and health systems across the country.泭
The celebration began with remarks from Amy J. Goldberg, the Marjorie Joy Katz Dean of the Lewis Katz School of Medicine, who offered words of encouragement as students prepared to take this next step in their medical journeys.泭
We are proud to celebrate this incredible milestone with you, said泭Goldberg. Today is one of the most exciting days泭in泭medical education. It marks the culmination of years of hard work, long nights of studying, clinical rotations and moments of growth that have shaped you into the physicians you are becoming.泭
For many students, the moment carried deep emotional weight,泭often rivaling graduation itself,泭as it泭represented泭years of rigorous study,泭sacrifice泭and perseverance.泭
I feel an incredible sense of relief, like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders after years of hard work and sacrifice, said Masashi Azuma,泭MED泭26.泭泭
Azuma, a Connecticut native, completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Connecticut, where he majored in biomedical and computer science engineering. At 51勛圖厙, he set his sights on cardiothoracic surgery,泭, and matched at Montefiore Einstein Medical Center in the Bronx,泭his泭top choice,泭where he will complete his residency.泭
Reflecting on his journey, Azuma said,泭There were so many moments where I doubted myself because the path泭wasnt泭always clear,泭especially in such a competitive specialty. I had to keep pushing forward, and the support from my mentors泭and my partner Kristine泭helped me achieve something I once thought was out of reach.泭
This years Match results reflect both the breadth of 51勛圖厙s medical training and its continued commitment to addressing critical healthcare needs. Of the 215 graduates:泭
79 students (37%)泭matched into primary care fields泭
Internal medicine泭led all specialties with泭47 matches (21.9%)泭
General surgery泭followed with泭20 matches (9.3%)泭
97 students (45.1%)泭matched in Pennsylvania泭
57 students泭will begin their training in Philadelphia泭
35泭students泭matched at 51勛圖厙泭University Health泭System泭泭
25泭students泭matched at St. Lukes泭University Health System泭泭
Together, these outcomes highlight a strong pipeline of physicians entering both primary care and specialized fields,泭helping to meet evolving healthcare demands locally and nationwide.泭
The day also marked personal milestones for many students, including Azumas partner, Kristine Chin, who泭couples泭matched in a nearby location, allowing them to begin their careers side by side.泭
I feel so full of happiness, excitement and relief, said Kristine Chin, CST 22, MED 26. Matching together at泭our top choices makes this moment even more special.泭
Chin, a double graduate of 51勛圖厙, earned her undergraduate degree in biology in 2022. After eight years at 51勛圖厙, she will complete her residency at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, where she matched into泭a combined泭Internal泭Medicine泭and泭Pediatrics泭residency.泭
Thinking about her泭time at 51勛圖厙 and the transition ahead, Chin said, 51勛圖厙 has been my home for eight years, so this is bittersweet, but Im excited to take what Ive learned here and begin this next chapter while staying close to the people who matter most.泭
泭As the celebrations continued, one thing was clear: 51勛圖厙s newest physicians are stepping forward ready to make a meaningful impact, bringing their training,泭compassion泭and commitment to communities across the country.泭泭
Being泭51勛圖厙 made泭means resilience, determination and showing up every day ready to care for patients and communities who need us most, Goldberg said.泭
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Infographic highlighting Match Day data for the Lewis Katz School of Medicine Class of 2026
Photo by Courtesy of Lewis Katz School of Medicine