Eight students in the UAMS College of Medicine Class of 2026 matched into the field of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, an extraordinary accomplishment in one of medicine’s most competitive specialties.
The specialty offered only 370 residency positions nationwide for more than 550 applicants in 2026. The national match rate in the specialty fell to 67% during one of the toughest cycles on record. UAMS students matched at 100%.
The eight students represent nearly 4% of the UAMS College of Medicine graduating class — almost double the percentage typically seen at many top-tier medical schools nationwide.
UAMS faculty credit the success to years of intentional collaboration between the UAMS College of Medicine and the UAMS Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery to create a structured support system that sets students up for success. This includes early exposure to the specialty through meaningful research, mentorship, and extensive clinical exposure at UAMS, Arkansas Children’s, and the Central Arkansas Veteran’s Healthcare System.
“We are incredibly proud of these students and the work they put in to reach this milestone,” said Gresham Richter, M.D., Chair of the UAMS Department of Otolaryngology “Matching eight students in a year this competitive speaks not only to their talent but also to the strength of the training environment and collaborative culture we’ve created at UAMS.”
