SHREVEPORT, La. – LSU Health Shreveport School of Medicine marked a historic milestone this past Friday, March 21, as 152 graduating medical students participated in the largest and most successful Match Day in the school’s history. With a match rate of 96.1%, the school once again proved itself as a strong competitor on the national stage.

Each year, Match Day—held at exactly 12 p.m. ET on the third Friday in March—reveals the next step in the journey of graduating medical students as they learn where they will begin their residency training. The announcement marks their transition from medical school to graduate medical education.

Nearly 44% of LSUHS’s Class of 2025 matched into primary care specialties, including Internal Medicine, OB/GYN, Pediatrics, Family Medicine, and Medicine-Pediatrics. This focus on primary care is especially important in Louisiana, which is projected by the American Medical Association to face the third-worst physician shortage in the nation by 2030—an estimated shortfall of 100 doctors for every 100,000 residents.

Notably, 22% of the class will stay at LSU Health Shreveport for their residency training, while 46% of graduates will remain in Louisiana, with 76% of those staying within the LSU Health System. Retaining medical graduates within the state plays a vital role in addressing the looming physician shortage and supporting Louisiana’s healthcare infrastructure.

“Our match rate and the caliber of the institutions our students are headed to demonstrate the excellence of our medical education program,” said Dr. David Guzick, Chancellor and Dean of the School of Medicine. “I offer my heartfelt congratulations to our students and deep appreciation to our faculty and staff whose guidance and support are essential to student success.

LSUHS medical students matched to prestigious institutions such as Stanford, UT Southwestern, Baylor, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham, among others. The five-year average match rate for LSUHS stands at 98.24%, underscoring the school’s consistent success.

In addition to celebrating its students’ achievements, Match Day also marks a key moment for the Shreveport-Bossier community, as the institution welcomes a new class of residents and fellows to its local medical facilities. All 138 residency positions offered by LSU Health Shreveport were filled, with incoming trainees set to begin in July at partner hospitals including Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport – Academic Medical Center, St. Mary Medical Center, Monroe Medical Center, and Rapides Medical Center.

The Class of 2025 will officially receive their Doctor of Medicine degrees on Saturday, May 10.