SUNY Downstate Match Day 2026: 187 New Physicians Advance to Residency, Strengthening New York’s Healthcare Workforce

By Office of Communications & Marketing | Mar 20, 2026

76 Percent of Graduates Stay in New York State
New York City—Led by Brooklyn—Draws More Than Half the Class

Brooklyn, NY (March 20, 2026) – As healthcare systems face ongoing workforce shortages, and the need to keep care close to home remains critical, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University (Downstate) announced that 187 medical students secured residency placements on Match Day 2026 where they learned where they will begin their residency training, marking their transition from medical school to clinical practice.

Seventy-six percent of graduates will remain in New York State, with more than half entering programs across New York City. Many will train in Brooklyn and Central Brooklyn communities, strengthening Downstate’s #KeepCareClose effort to expand access to care, build a local healthcare workforce, and strengthen local care delivery and a workforce committed to the communities it serves.

This year’s Match Day reflects Downstate’s continued focus on preparing physicians who will serve a variety of communities, particularly those facing the greatest barriers to care across New York State.

Thirty-five graduates will continue their training at Downstate.

“Downstate has a history of preparing physicians who take on the most pressing challenges in healthcare,” said Wayne J. Riley, M.D., MPH, MBA, MACP, President of SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University. “Our students’ decisions reflect a clear commitment to improving access to care and strengthening the health of communities across New York.”

“Our graduates enter residency ready to meet the demands of a complex healthcare landscape,” said F. Charles Brunicardi, M.D., FACS, Dean of the College of Medicine. “They are prepared to expand access to care, strengthen clinical delivery systems, and improve outcomes in communities facing the greatest barriers.”

The Class of 2026 will pursue residencies across 28 specialties. Top fields include:

Internal Medicine: 27 percent
Anesthesiology: 12 percent
Psychiatry: 7 percent
Emergency Medicine: 7 percent
Obstetrics/Gynecology: 6 percent
Neurology: 6 percent
Diagnostic Radiology: 5 percent
Pediatrics: 4 percent
Orthopedics: 4 percent
Family Medicine: 3 percent

Downstate graduates will train at leading institutions across the region, including Northwell Health, Montefiore Health System, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital – Columbia and Cornell, and Maimonides Medical Center.

These placements reflect a shared commitment to expanding access to care while training physicians in high-impact clinical environments. Programs such as Downstate’s Brooklyn Free Clinic, a student-run initiative that provides care to uninsured residents, reinforce this mission by preparing students to deliver community-based care and address access gaps.

As they begin residency, members of the Class of 2026 carry forward Downstate’s focus on clinical excellence, public health, and community impact, advancing care in the places where it is needed most.

For more information on Match Day 2026, please visit our Match Day page.

About SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University

About SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
Downstate Health Sciences University is Brooklyn’s academic medical center—the only SUNY academic medical center in New York City. It serves as a critical hub for healthcare delivery, medical education, and research for Brooklyn’s 2.7 million residents and expands access to care in Brooklyn.

University Hospital at Downstate (UHD) delivers high-acuity and community-based care across the borough, with more than 800 physicians across 53 specialties and subspecialties. UHD provides high-risk neonatal and infant care, pediatric nephrology, and dialysis services, and established Brooklyn’s first kidney transplantation program more than 50 years ago.

Downstate strengthens the healthcare workforce and advances community-based care through its academic programs and clinical training. Its biotechnology initiatives, including the Biotechnology Incubator and BioBAT, drive innovation and economic growth across Brooklyn and New York City.

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