WEST DES MOINES, IOWA (March 30, 2026) — The Des Moines University (DMU) College of Osteopathic Medicine Class of 2026 has achieved a 99% match rate in the 2026 National Resident Matching Program. The results, announced March 20, mark another milestone in DMU's longstanding success in preparing future physicians.
Hannah McKay, a native of Bettendorf, Iowa (52722), was one of 196 in the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program to match for residency. McKay will begin Family Medicine residency at Genesis Quad Cities in Davenport, Iowa, after commencement in May.
"Match Day marks a culmination of at least eight years of rigorous preparation, sacrifice and an unwavering commitment to becoming a physician," says David Connett DO FACOFP (dist), dean of DMU's College of Osteopathic Medicine.
"I want to congratulate all 196 of our students who matched. Your dedication, resilience and commitment to patient care have brought you to this moment."
DMU's Match Day was held in person for the second year at the university's campus, where students, faculty, and families gathered to celebrate. At 11AM, students opened their envelopes to learn where they will begin the next phase of their medical training.
"Residency is where knowledge turns into experience and where you will be challenged in ways that will surprise you. It's also where patients will begin to know you as their doctor," says Angela L Walker Franklin PhD, president and CEO of DMU.
"We also celebrate the people who helped you get here. To the families, mentors, and friends, your sacrifices, your patience, and your belief in these students made this day possible."
The 2026 class matched into diverse specialties across the United States, with particularly strong representation in primary-care fields, where demand is high. As the nation's top producer of primary-care physicians, DMU is helping address critical workforce shortages.
The top residency specialty placements this year include:
- Family Medicine — 44
- Internal Medicine — 36
- Emergency Medicine — 32
- Pediatrics — 21
- Psychiatry — 14
Of the students matching in Iowa, the top residency specialty placements include:
- Internal Medicine — 9
- Family Medicine — 8
- Emergency Medicine — 6
- Psychiatry — 2
- Pediatrics — 2
- Transitional Year — 2
- Anesthesiology — 1
The other top states among the 33 states where their residencies are located include:
- Michigan — 20
- Wisconsin — 19
- Minnesota — 18
- Illinois — 15
- Ohio — 9
- California — 8
According to the National Resident Matching Program, this year's match was the largest in the organization's history, with over 53,000 applicants registered and more than 44,000 residency positions offered in over 6,800 program tracks across the United States.
The 2026 Match comes amid growing national demand for physicians, especially in rural and underserved communities. Through its strong emphasis on primary-care and community-based training, DMU continues to prepare physicians to meet those needs across the country.
Located in West Des Moines, part of Iowa's capital metro, Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences offers eleven graduate-level professional-degree programs in anatomy, biomedical sciences, health-care administration, occupational therapy, osteopathic medicine, physical therapy, physician-assistant studies, podiatric medicine, and public health. Founded in 1898, the institution offers superior academics in a collaborative environment. DMU students' scores on national examinations, pass-rates on board certifications, and match-rates for medical-residency programs are consistently higher than national averages and rates at peer institutions.
