Kansas Medical College's First Class Posts Stunning 97.3% Match Rate

WICHITA, KS – March 25, 2026 – The inaugural graduating class of the Kansas Health Science University’s Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine (KHSU-KansasCOM) has achieved a remarkable 97.3% residency match rate, a figure that not only establishes the new institution as a formidable force in medical education but also signals a significant win for healthcare in the Midwest.

On March 20, a day known nationwide as “The Match,” 73 of the college’s 75 pioneering students learned where they would begin their careers as physicians. Their collective success rate dramatically outpaces the 2026 national averages for both U.S. MD seniors (93.5%) and U.S. DO seniors (93.2%), according to data from the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). For a school celebrating its very first graduating class, the achievement is an extraordinary milestone.

A Landmark Achievement for a New College

The annual Match Day is a pivotal, high-stakes moment for medical students, who spend months applying and interviewing for a limited number of residency positions. A sophisticated algorithm then pairs students with hospital programs based on mutual rankings. For KansasCOM, which welcomed its first students in 2022 as the state's first osteopathic medical school, this inaugural match was the first true test of its educational model.

“This is an extraordinary achievement and a milestone moment that reflects the dedication of our students, the strength of our faculty and clinical training model, and the promise of KansasCOM’s mission to prepare future physicians to serve communities with skill, compassion and purpose,” said Kimberly Long, Ph.D., interim president of KHSU.

The results speak volumes about the quality of that preparation. Graduates secured positions at highly respected institutions, including the Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, UT Southwestern, and Northwestern, demonstrating their competitiveness for top-tier programs across the country.

“As members of the college’s first graduating class, our students are launching their careers as physicians with intention and impact,” said Eric Gish, DO, dean of KansasCOM. “Their success reflects the strength of their preparation and the commitment they bring to serving patients and communities. It also marks a defining moment for KansasCOM and signals the caliber of care our graduates will bring to the future of health care.”

Addressing a Critical Need in Kansas and the Midwest

Beyond the impressive numbers, the composition of the match results directly addresses the college’s foundational mission: to tackle critical physician shortages, particularly in Kansas and surrounding states. Kansas currently ranks 40th in the nation for active physicians per capita, with at least 13 counties designated as medically underserved.

KansasCOM’s inaugural class is poised to make an immediate impact on this deficit. A striking 40 of the 73 matched students—more than half—are entering primary care residency programs, such as family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics. These are the frontline specialties most needed in underserved rural and urban communities. Furthermore, 31 of the graduates will remain in the Midwest for their residencies, increasing the likelihood they will establish long-term practices in the region.

“Our students' impact will not only be seen here in Kansas, but also across the country in 26 other states and in 13 diverse specialties – with a large number serving in primary care,” noted Brandon Dorion, Ed.D., career services specialist for KHSU. “Their match success is a direct representation of their hard work, dedication and embodiment of becoming forward-thinking, patient-centered physicians.”

An Innovative Blueprint for Medical Education

The exceptional outcome is not a matter of chance but the product of a deliberately modern and community-focused curriculum. From its inception, KansasCOM has integrated advanced technology and hands-on clinical experience to prepare its students for the future of medicine. The college is the first of its kind to formally incorporate “Medical Intelligence” into its curriculum, training students in AI, data science, healthcare economics, and entrepreneurship.

This forward-thinking approach is evident in the labs and classrooms. Students benefit from a longitudinal ultrasound curriculum, using state-of-the-art equipment to build diagnostic skills from day one. The anatomy lab moves beyond traditional methods, employing interactive 3D Sectra Tables for virtual dissection alongside physical study. High-fidelity simulation labs challenge students with realistic scenarios, from poverty simulations to mock cardiac arrest escape rooms, honing their clinical reasoning and communication skills under pressure.

This technological focus is paired with a deep commitment to community-based care. As part of The Community Solution Education System, a nonprofit network of colleges, KHSU emphasizes social responsibility. In their first year alone, students logged over 4,000 hours of community service, embedding with rural physicians and participating in EMT ride-alongs to gain early, meaningful exposure to the social determinants of health.

The Rising Influence of Osteopathic Medicine

KansasCOM’s success story unfolds against a backdrop of the growing prominence of osteopathic medicine in the United States. The 2026 Match was the largest in NRMP history, and the 93.2% match rate for osteopathic (DO) seniors was a record high, marking the fourth consecutive year of growth in residency placements for DOs. This trend reflects a widening recognition of the value of the osteopathic approach, which emphasizes holistic, patient-centered care.

Graduates from KansasCOM matched into 13 different specialties, including highly competitive fields like diagnostic radiology, general surgery, and emergency medicine, dispelling any outdated notions about the career paths available to DOs. Their success proves that graduates from new osteopathic programs are not only filling critical primary care gaps but are also competing and succeeding at the highest levels across the medical spectrum.

The college will hold its first graduation ceremony on May 9, officially conferring the title of doctor upon the 75 students who began this journey four years ago. As they disperse to residency programs across 27 states, they carry with them the validation of a successful match and the promise of a new generation of physicians trained to meet the complex health challenges of today and tomorrow.