March 18, 2026
What you need to know: Thousands of medical students in California and across the country are learning where they will train during Match Week — a milestone that plays a critical role in strengthening the state’s future physician workforce.
This week, thousands of medical students in California and across the country are experiencing Match Week, one of the most highly anticipated – and nerve-wracking – periods of their professional lives, where they find out if they have been matched to a residency program. The week-long process culminates on Friday, March 20, when these future doctors will finally discover where they will spend the next several years completing their training.
“Match Week is a monumental milestone in the career of all physicians, and we proudly welcome this next generation of future doctors to the frontlines of patient care,” said California Medical Association (CMA) President René Bravo, M.D. “We know that most of the residents placed in California programs will go on to practice in our state, building lives and putting down roots here as they work to improve the health of their communities. It’s a day of celebration not just for these students, but for the patients they will serve as well.”
Increasing the number of graduate medical education (GME) residency positions is one of the most effective, proven strategies for mitigating the state’s physician shortage and improving health equity. Data has consistently shown that California has the highest physician retention rate in the country – meaning physicians who complete their residency training in California by and large go on to establish their permanent practices in the state. With California facing an ongoing and severe physician shortage, supporting GME programs is critical to the future of our health care system.
Whether through advocacy, ballot initiatives, and investments in new and existing GME programs, CMA has been a staunch advocate for bolstering GME to build up our physician workforce. CMA will continue to advocate at both the state and federal levels to secure and expand funding for GME programs. Through these targeted investments, California can build a robust physician workforce that will meet the evolving needs of California’s patients.
Supporting the Next Generation of Physicians
As students take this important step into residency and the next phase of their medical careers, CMA remains committed to supporting them along the way. CMA offers free membership to medical students and residents, along with leadership development opportunities, advocacy engagement, career resources and a statewide network of physician mentors and peers. By investing in the success of future physicians, CMA is helping ensure California’s patients and communities will have access to the care they need for years to come.