For 4th Year in a Row, Burnett School of Medicine Rocked a 100% Residency Match

FORT WORTH  – The entire class of 2026 at the Anne Burnett Marion School of Medicine at Texas Christian University matched into competitive medical residency programs across the United States and in Texas.

The Empathetic Scholars® will begin the next chapter of their careers as resident physicians at high profile health care systems such as Yale School of Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center and more in the coming months. 

“These medical students have learned medicine in Fort Worth, which has one of the most diverse healthcare communities in the country,” said Stuart D. Flynn, M.D., the Founding Dean of Burnett School of Medicine at TCU. “This medical school and community have given them medical knowledge, compassion, empathy, and the tools they will need to be leaders as they advance to the next chapter of their medical careers.”

Each year at 11 a.m. CST on the third Friday of March, fourth-year medical students across the nation learn where they will begin their careers as physicians in the specialty of their choice. The National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) releases results to applicants seeking residency and fellowship training positions in the U.S.

STUDENT SPOTLIGHTS

A computerized mathematical algorithm used by the NRMP conducts the match aligning the preferences of applicants with the preferences of U.S. residency programs seeking new trainees. Residency training for most graduates will begin in June or July.

Cort Ewing, MS4 at Burnett School of Medicine, is excited to begin his next phase as an otolaryngology resident at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine.

“I know I’m going to a great place where I’m going to learn and meet a lot of new people and provide the best care to patients that I can,” Ewing said.

The Burnett School of Medicine creates memorable Match Day celebrations for their students. This year’s event was titled “MatchFest 2026” and had a music festival-inspired theme. The event was held on Friday, March 20, at the 4Eleven, in the Near Southside neighborhood. The celebration kicked off with a live band providing music.

RESIDENCY MATCHES BY SPECIALTY 

Burnett School of Medicine faculty members entered the venue dressed like their favorite rock stars and handed the students their envelopes. Each student’s match result was printed on a commemorative lanyard. They also received a commemorative T-shirt and a poster with the MatchFest 2026 design along with their name and residency match.

Angela Abarquez, MS4 at Burnett School of Medicine, matched in internal medicine (gastroenterology) at Ochsner Health in New Orleans. She was thrilled to see her mentors dressed as rock stars.

“The themed celebrations have been amazing,” Abarquez said. “I’ve met some faculty who I know I’m going to stay in touch with even beyond medical school; it’s been a great experience.”

COUPLES MATCH

The class of 2026 will be entering 16 residency programs in Texas, with 12 in North Texas including Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center in Fort Worth, and UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. Burnett School of Medicine students are headed to residency programs in some of the major cities in Texas such as Austin, El Paso and Houston.

MATCH DAY FAQ

Once again, Burnett School of Medicine graduates matched into coveted residency slots in competitive medical specialties. The most notable medical specialties students were accepted into this year were interventional radiology, ophthalmology, orthopedic surgery, plastic surgery and otolaryngology (ear, nose & throat).

Lauren Hui, MS-4 at Burnett School of Medicine, matched in vascular and interventional radiology at Yale School of Medicine. She credited the medical school’s Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship (LIC) curriculum with setting her up for success during her away rotations to land the competitive residency spot.

“I think having the LIC experience really prepared me well,” Hui said. “Having that broad base and depth really helped. I think it paid off really well.”