The Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine is celebrating its sixth Match Day, a major milestone for medical students on their path to filling a critical need for more physicians in Washington and beyond.
Each year, a competitive national matching process pairs medical students with residency programs in their chosen specialty, the next step in their training to become independently practicing physicians. Match results are released on the third Friday of March, on March 20 this year.
Please join us in congratulating the MD Class of 2026 on their matches, which will take them to residencies across the country, and welcome WSU’s newest resident physicians and fellows, who will join us in Washington this summer.
MD Program: Medical Students Meet Their Match
Among this year’s class, 30% will remain in Washington for residency, reflecting their commitment to serving the state as physicians. Doctors are more likely to practice medicine in the area they complete their residency training.
Many students who matched out of state won’t be gone for long. WSU’s MD program admits applicants with ties to Washington who demonstrate an interest in serving the state’s rural and underserved communities. This process has shown success, as most graduates who have entered practice are now practicing in Washington.
This year, 51% of the class chose primary care specialties, including family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, and OB/GYN. They hope to make an impact by helping to address an acute shortage of primary care physicians locally and nationwide.
“Family medicine feels like where I was always supposed to be,” said fourth-year medical student Leah Kooiman, who matched into residency at Adventist Health Ukiah Valley in a medically underserved region of California. “I’m excited to get to satisfy my desire for variety and breadth of scope, see patients of all ages, and build long-term relationships with patients.”
Other members of the Class of 2026 hope to make a difference by improving access to specialist care, from anesthesiology to orthopedic surgery.
“In orthopedics, I found a blend of craft and collaboration, technical skill, creativity, and the privilege of helping patients with a tangible, immediate impact,” said Julia Todderud, who matched into an orthopedic surgery residency at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. She will be the college’s first female orthopedic surgeon.
Many soon-to-be graduates are also looking forward to making an impact through medical research and advocacy.
After completing an internal medicine residency at the University of Washington, Zachary Gottschalk plans to pursue subspecialty training in hematology and oncology. He’s excited about new frontiers in cancer treatment like immunotherapy.
“I want to contribute meaningfully to our collective body of medical knowledge, helping refine future care for generations to come,” he said.
Each medical student’s journey is unique. Visit our Match Day website to learn more about our students and their plans to make a difference for patients locally and beyond.
Graduate Medical Education: Welcoming New Doctors to Washington
Match Day also means welcoming new faces from across the country and globe to WSU. The College of Medicine’s residency and fellowship programs will bring 28 talented physicians to train and provide care in communities across Washington, where they are likely to stay to practice as fully licensed physicians. They will begin their training on July 1.
Media Contact
Stephanie Engle, WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine Communications and Marketing, 509-368-6937, stephanie.engle@wsu.edu.