Students from Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine celebrated a defining milestone for its Class of 2026 during Match Day on Friday, March 20.
The annual event brought together students, families, faculty, and mentors to share in the excitement as future physicians learned where they will continue their medical training.
At exactly noon, 121 students opened their envelopes simultaneously in the Oakland Center Founders Ballroom discovering their residency placements and taking the next step in their medical careers.
“Match Day is a wonderful day for our students, their families and for our community. It is a day with a lot of smiles and a lot of family members beaming with pride,” said Christopher Carpenter, Stephan Sharf Dean, OUWB. “To see our students reach the finish line after all of their hard work and sacrifice is inspiring. It will long be remembered as one of the most memorable days of their lives.”
To become practicing, licensed physicians, students must earn their medical degrees and complete three to seven years of residency, or full-time hands-on clinical training under the supervision of licensed physicians. Students choose several hospitals where they want to further their education and interview with them. A hospital agrees to host them for training and these matches are revealed on Match Day.
Matthew Helou and Wesam Almasri celebrate after learning where they matched. Over 40% matched in Michigan.
Photo courtesy OU
The match rate for the class was 98%, so not every medical school graduate is accepted into a residency program.
Giuliano Romano matched in internal medicine at University of Michigan Hospitals in Ann Arbor. He was among many students who celebrated with tears of joy in their eyes.
“I just matched at my number one program with one of my best friends and I’m just super grateful for the opportunity,” he said. “I’m the first in my family to be a physician, I know they’re very proud of me, and I’m very blessed to have their support…I do it all for them.”
The students collectively learned they are headed to 23 states across the country.
That includes 51, or 42%, who will complete their residency training in Michigan. Seventeen are headed to residencies throughout the Corewell Health system in Michigan.
Others matched at places like Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Stanford Health Care, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, University of Michigan Hospitals, and University of California Irvine Medical Center.
“I have no doubt it will be one of the most memorable days of your lives,” Carpenter told the students. “Ask any physician and they’ll say they remember Match Day vividly.”
He urged students to think about the positive impacts they will have on medicine.
“It’s not necessary about the program, it’s about what you will bring to the program and how you find your way and make your mark,” he said. “Think of this moment as a fresh start down another road of fulfilling your dreams to become a doctor.”
Overall 43% matched in primary care while the top non-primary care specialties were anesthesiology, emergency medicine, neurology, psychiatry, and orthopedic surgery.
Students matched in a total of 21 specialties.
About 44,000 medical students from across the U.S. were offered residency positions in more than 6,800 programs across the U.S. this year, according to the National Resident Matching Program.
For 2026, the top five states where OU William Beaumont students matched, in order, were Michigan, California, Florida, Illinois, and Ohio.
The Class of 2026 will next be recognized during commencement at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 8.