The energy was unmistakable on both KCU campuses as fourth-year osteopathic medical students gathered in Kansas City and Joplin, and tuned in remotely from across the country, to celebrate Match Day 2026. More than 140 students and their families attended the on‑campus events, filling both locations with a mix of anticipation, relief and excitement as they learned where their residencies will take them following commencement in May.
KCU student doctors placed into programs across a wide range of specialties nationwide. Fifty percent matched into primary care fields—family medicine, internal medicine and pediatrics—continuing the University’s role in contributing to communities in need of essential primary care providers. KCU students also earned positions in highly sought-after specialties including anesthesiology, dermatology, neurology, otolaryngology and plastic surgery.
“For me, this was 10 years in the making,” said Student Doctor Diana Mantilla who matched into anesthesiology at Children’s Mercy in Kansas City. “I completed my master’s at KCU. My family and I live here and we wanted to stay in the area if possible. The immediate gratification when I opened the envelope was surreal! This will be a day I remember for a very long time.”
Not only is Match Day a time of excitement for students and their families, it also is a moment of intense pride for the faculty and deans who have guided students throughout four years of rigorous academic preparation.
“Match Day is a defining moment in a physician’s training,” said W. Joshua Cox, DO, FACOFP, executive dean of the KCU College of Osteopathic Medicine. “Our student doctors have put in years of focused, disciplined work, and their placements reflect both their dedication and the strength of their preparation. We look forward to the impact they will make as they continue their training.”
KCU continues to play a pivotal role in preparing the physician workforce. The University is the leading producer of physicians in Missouri, the second-leading producer for the state of Kansas and is recognized among the nation’s most impactful medical schools in primary care. A full list of residency placements is available here.
Commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2026 will be held on May 3 in Joplin and May 8 in Kansas City.
To learn more about the economic impact KCU generates both regionally and nationally, click here.
View media coverage here.
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