Covista Med Schools' 97% Residency Rate Tackles US Doctor Shortage

CHICAGO, IL – April 23, 2026 – As the United States grapples with a deepening physician shortage, healthcare educator Covista has announced a significant influx of new doctors into the nation's healthcare system. Its two medical schools, Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM) and American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC), achieved a combined 97% first-time residency attainment rate for their 2025-2026 graduating class. This achievement will send a new wave of physicians into training programs across 42 states and 26 different specialties, many of which are critically understaffed.

This year’s class from AUC attained a remarkable 98% first-time residency rate, while RUSM graduates achieved a 96% rate. These figures represent a major contribution to the U.S. medical workforce, placing newly minted doctors on the front lines of a national health crisis.

A Success Rate That Defies National Averages

The 97% combined residency attainment rate is particularly noteworthy when benchmarked against national statistics. According to the 2024 Main Residency Match data from the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), the match rate for seniors at U.S. MD-granting schools was 93.5%, and for U.S. DO-granting schools, it was 92.3%. The success rate for U.S. citizen international medical graduates (IMGs), the category under which most RUSM and AUC graduates fall, was significantly lower at 67.0%.

That RUSM and AUC graduates are not only surpassing the average for IMGs but also exceeding the rates for U.S. medical school seniors points to a highly effective and rigorous preparation process. Both institutions hold accreditations recognized by U.S. authorities—CAAM-HP for RUSM and ACCM for AUC—which is a prerequisite for their graduates to practice in the United States. This success is a testament to an educational model designed to navigate the competitive U.S. residency application process.

“I’ve lived this process from every angle: as a student awaiting news, as a faculty member and vice dean watching those I mentored open their envelopes, as dean, and as a father and future father-in-law,” said Mark Rosenberg, dean of American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. “I know what this moment costs and what it means. And I know it does not happen without an entire community doing its part.”

Cheryl Holmes, dean of Ross University School of Medicine, echoed this sentiment. “Having been through medical school, I truly appreciate how pivotal the match process is. It takes a great deal of care and preparation to navigate, not only for our students, but our faculty and staff who pour themselves into creating our future physicians. Today’s results are proof that our approach, hard work and dedication paid off.”

A Direct Injection into a Strained System

The timing of this influx of physicians could not be more critical. Independent data confirms the severity of the U.S. physician shortage. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) projects a shortfall of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036, driven by an aging population and a wave of physician retirements. The problem is especially acute in primary care, where the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has noted that nearly 100 million Americans already live in designated Health Professional Shortage Areas.

Covista's own research, the Care Capacity Monitor, highlights the on-the-ground reality, finding that 92% of healthcare executives report challenges hiring physician specialists and 86% face the same difficulty with primary care physicians. These graduates are stepping directly into that gap.

"There are more than twice as many passionate individuals who want to become physicians as there are seats in U.S. medical schools," said Scott Liles, president of medical and veterinary at Covista. "RUSM and AUC exist to open that door. Our graduates earned their place in high-caliber residency programs based on the strength of their clinical performance, board scores and interviews. This year's results are a testament to who they are. And they're going where the need is greatest."

Targeting the Epicenters of Need

Beyond the sheer numbers, the strategic placement of these new doctors is a crucial part of the story. Graduates secured residencies in 26 specialties, with a significant number entering fields facing documented national shortages, including internal medicine, family medicine, psychiatry, emergency medicine, and pediatrics. These are the specialties that form the bedrock of community health and are currently under the most strain.

The geographic distribution of these placements is equally impactful. Many of the new residents are headed to communities where physicians are hardest to recruit. These include rural areas like the Texas Permian Basin and parts of West Virginia, as well as underserved urban centers such as Cook County, Illinois, and the Bronx, New York. In these regions, the arrival of new primary care physicians and specialists can dramatically improve access to care, reduce patient wait times, and alleviate the burden on overworked local health systems.

This trend aligns with broader data showing that IMGs are more likely to practice in primary care and in medically underserved areas, making them a vital component of America's healthcare safety net. By funneling qualified doctors into these specific gaps, Covista’s schools are providing a targeted solution to a nationwide problem with deeply local consequences.

A Scalable Model for a National Challenge

As America's largest healthcare educator, Covista is operating a model that addresses the physician shortage at scale. By providing an alternative, accredited pathway for aspiring doctors who may not secure a spot in a U.S. medical school, the company is expanding the overall pipeline of qualified physicians. This approach effectively bypasses the bottleneck created by the limited growth in Medicare-funded residency positions in the United States, a factor that has constrained the domestic supply of doctors despite increases in U.S. medical school enrollment.

The success of RUSM and AUC demonstrates that international medical schools can produce graduates who not only meet but excel within the rigorous standards of the U.S. healthcare system. As the demand for physicians continues to outpace supply, this high-volume, high-placement model offers a pragmatic and proven strategy for strengthening the nation's healthcare workforce from the ground up, one practice-ready doctor at a time.