INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana University School of Medicine congratulates the 343 fourth-year medical students who successfully paired with residency programs as part of Match Day 2026.
Match Day assembles soon-to-be graduates from IU School of Medicine’s nine campuses as they take the next step on their medical training journey. It occurs simultaneously at medical schools across the country. IU students learn their match by opening large red envelopes.
"Each of you represents a success story. No matter the specialty you've chosen or where you're headed, you're becoming a doctor — and a great one," said Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA, executive vice president for university clinical affairs at IU and dean of the IU School of Medicine.
The IU School of Medicine’s class of 2026 matched with training programs across 37 states. Of the 343 matched, 98 will enter IU School of Medicine residency programs. In all, 115 of the recent graduates will be staying in Indiana to complete their training.
IU’s match rate of 97% is well above the nationwide average for medical schools.
Recent medical school graduates have learned the basic skills necessary to become a physician, but residency programs provide the specialized training in both clinical and research settings necessary to independently practice medicine. These programs typically last between three and nine years, depending on the specialty.
Students from the Indiana University School of Medicine celebrated matching into residency programs across the country on March 20, 2026.
IU School of Medicine offers 38 residency programs, including internal medicine, pediatrics, family medicine, anesthesiology and surgery. In addition to the 98 students staying at IU for their residency, 333 more will be joining IU residency programs from 134 different medical schools.
Almost 37% of this year's graduates will enter primary care residency programs, which fulfill a crucial healthcare need across Indiana and beyond. About 41% will join hospital residency programs, while 21% matched into surgery residencies.
IU School of Medicine leaders addressed the forthcoming graduates during a special ceremony held on the Indianapolis campus Friday.
"I am so proud of each one of you for the hard work and determination that you showed in your studies since joining us in your journey to becoming a physician," said Bradley L. Allen, MD, PhD, Executive Associate Dean for Educational Affairs. "More importantly, thank you for the kindness and compassion that you offered to each patient you met, fellow members of the care team, and for one another as you traveled this road together."
Ana Danner and Carson Dougherty, who will soon graduate from the Fort Wayne campus, matched as a couple into separate residency programs at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Danner will train in neurology, and Dougherty matched into the pathology program.
"I remember being nervous at med school orientation, but I blinked and it was Match Day," Danner said. "It's a surreal feeling. It all went by so fast. Everyone was so supportive along the way."
"We loved Fort Wayne, but we're excited for this new adventure in Pittsburgh," Dougherty said.
About the Indiana University School of Medicine
The IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability. According to the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research, the IU School of Medicine ranks No. 15 in 2025 National Institutes of Health funding among all public medical schools in the country.
For more news, visit the IU School of Medicine Newsroom: medicine.iu.edu/news