Almost half of FSU M.D. Class of 2026 will remain in Florida for residency after successful Match Day 2026 results
Florida – Florida State University’s College of Medicine celebrated a milestone moment this March as graduating medical students of the M.D. Class of 2026 discovered where they will continue their medical journeys. On Match Day, an annual nationwide event that pairs medical school graduates with residency programs across the United States, nearly half of FSU’s graduates learned they will remain in Florida to complete the next stage of their training, a critical step toward full licensure and board certification in their chosen specialties.
Of the 115 students participating in the National Resident Matching Program, 55, or 47%, secured positions in Florida. This statistic is significant in light of the state’s ongoing physician shortage and efforts to retain talent locally. “Having almost half of our class stay in Florida bodes well for the future as Florida faces a serious physician shortage,” said College of Medicine Dean Alma B. Littles. “Research has shown that almost half of all physicians establish their practices within 50 miles of where they completed their residencies.” Littles’ own career exemplifies the trend; she completed her family medicine residency in her home county of Gadsden at what is now Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare in 1989 and established her practice there the same year.
While Florida remained the destination for nearly half the class, 39 students, or just over 31%, matched in other southeastern states, including Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. Collectively, 94 of the 115 students, nearly 81%, are remaining in the Southeast, a reflection of the strong regional ties and opportunities available in these states.
A small number of students followed alternative paths this year. Four graduates entered military service, with two joining the Air Force and one each in the Army and Navy, matched to military hospitals. One student participated in a specialty match for urology administered by the American Urological Association, while another deferred participation to pursue a research year, demonstrating the range of career paths medical students can take.
The Class of 2026 exhibited diverse specialty interests, highlighting both traditional primary care pathways and competitive surgical and specialty fields. Internal medicine drew the largest share, with 28 students (23%) matched in that specialty. Psychiatry followed with 15 students (12%), while pediatrics and general or preliminary surgery each secured 13 matches (11%). Family medicine, essential to addressing the state’s physician shortage, accounted for 12 matches (10%). Specialties such as obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedic surgery, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and diagnostic radiology each included four matches (3%). Smaller specialty programs, including transitional programs, otolaryngology, dermatology, child neurology, internal medicine/psychiatry, radiation oncology, and urology, had one or two students matched.
When examining primary care specialties, excluding obstetrics and gynecology, 54 students (47%) matched in those fields. Including ob/gyn increases the total to 59 students, or 51%. While the Association of American Colleges does not officially classify ob/gyn as a primary care specialty, many educators argue that the field plays a crucial role in comprehensive care, especially in underserved regions.
The atmosphere at FSU’s Ruby Diamond Concert Hall, the venue for the ceremony, reflected the excitement and relief felt by students and their families. The dean opened the event with welcoming remarks, after which students eagerly opened their envelopes to learn their match results. The room erupted in joyful chaos, with cheering, laughter, and high-fives as students celebrated their placements. Families and friends captured the moment with photos, sharing in the collective pride and accomplishment of the class.
Class President Alycia Savage, a 10-year U.S. Marine Corps veteran, addressed her peers with words of encouragement and reflection. Sharing her own story of disappointment from flight training when assigned to her last-choice aircraft, Savage drew parallels to the unpredictability of Match Day. “I did not want to fly the MV-22 Osprey. But the Osprey, an aircraft that combines the vertical takeoff and landing of a helicopter with the speed and range of a turboprop plane, wanted me,” she said.
Her experience, she explained, ultimately shaped her path and helped define her career. “I became who I am because of a path I didn’t choose. So whatever you felt today when you opened your envelope, feel it fully. Celebrate. Cry. Laugh. Feel the relief, the excitement. If needed, feel the disappointment, fear or uncertainty. And then, get to work,” Savage said. She herself will remain in Tallahassee for a general surgery residency with FSU College of Medicine and Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare.
Savage’s speech resonated with many in the audience, emphasizing that while the exact locations and specialties may be uncertain at times, students have control over their professional growth, leadership, and service to patients. “We may not always control where we land, but we absolutely control how we lead, how we serve, and who we become once we get there. Class of 2026, I am so incredibly proud of you. I cannot wait to walk across this graduation stage with you,” she said, drawing applause and smiles from her classmates.
In her closing remarks, Dean Littles reminded students that Match Day was a pivotal step toward completing their medical education. “Eight weeks from tomorrow, we’ll gather again in this same place and make it official. What a day it will be for all of us! See you then,” she said, reinforcing the anticipation and sense of accomplishment surrounding graduation.
The 2026 Match Day results not only reflect the individual achievements of the FSU M.D. graduates but also carry broader implications for the healthcare landscape in Florida and the Southeast. Retaining nearly half of the graduating class within Florida directly addresses the physician shortage, particularly in rural and underserved areas, while the majority remaining in the Southeast contributes to strengthening regional healthcare systems.
Beyond the numbers, the day also showcased the resilience, adaptability, and dedication of students who have navigated years of rigorous training, long hours, and intense academic demands. Each envelope opened represented years of commitment and a future dedicated to patient care, research, and community service.
For many students, Match Day is a culmination of personal sacrifice, professional development, and the realization of lifelong dreams. It serves as a tangible milestone, signaling the transition from medical student to resident physician and eventually to licensed, practicing physician.
As families, faculty, and classmates celebrated together at Ruby Diamond Concert Hall, the message was clear: the Class of 2026 is ready to meet the challenges of residency, serve communities across Florida and the Southeast, and continue the legacy of excellence established by Florida State University College of Medicine.
The day’s excitement, emotion, and reflection underscored the profound significance of Match Day, not just as a procedural event but as a celebration of perseverance, achievement, and the enduring commitment of a new generation of physicians to the health and wellbeing of the communities they will serve.
