Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine Celebrates Full Residency Matches for Second Graduating Class

The Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine (KPSOM) in Pasadena said 100 percent of its second graduating class secured first-year residency positions at leading programs nationwide.

In a statement on Friday, KPSOM said the milestone, celebrated at the school’s second Match Day event, comes as these future physicians prepare to enter specialized training following their graduation in May from the medical school, which focuses on patient-centered care and health equity principles.

Match Day represents the culmination of an extensive application process coordinated by the National Resident Matching Program, which uses a sophisticated algorithm to place medical students into residency programs based on ranked preferences from both students and institutions.

KPSOM students opened their results at 9 a.m., along with residency applicants across the United States, marking this pivotal milestone in their medical careers.

“Today, we are so proud to announce the residency matches of our second class of students while also acknowledging the years of hard work, dedication and accomplishments that have led each of them to this moment,” said Dr. John L. Dalrymple, KPSOM Dean and CEO. “Together we have set out to drive profound transformation in medical education and we look forward to seeing the positive impact these students will bring to their residency programs while addressing health equity in their respective communities.”

Among the success stories is student Brandon Towns, who matched into UC San Diego Medical Center’s Anesthesiology program after facing significant health challenges during his medical education; during his first year, Towns went through chemotherapy for Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

“Amid the usual stress of exams and lectures, I found myself juggling PET scans and bone marrow biopsies,” Towns said. “On Match Day, I reflect on that year of fear and uncertainty with a mosaic of emotions, but none more so than gratitude – gratitude for the perspective I gained on patient care and for the firsthand understanding of what true empathy means for those facing the most frightening moments of their lives.”

Towns credits his experience as both physician-in-training and patient with giving him valuable perspective that he believes will make him “a more compassionate physician for my future patients.”

Half of the graduating students matched into California-based programs, with Mount Sinai Hospital, UC Davis Medical Center, and UC San Diego Medical Center accepting the largest number of KPSOM students, the school’s announcement said.

Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Pediatrics emerged as the top specialty choices among graduates, with 38 percent selecting primary care specialties including Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, and Pediatrics, and 8 percent continuing their training within Kaiser Permanente’s own residency programs.

The student cohort includes several individuals with remarkable personal journeys, including Jacob Abrahams, who began medical school shortly after being diagnosed with a brain tumor and will now train in Internal Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital.

Saadiq Garba, a first-generation American who faced challenges including learning English and being far from home, matched into Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Mass General Brigham, the statement said.

Ariana Vajdi, a non-traditional student who took five years off between undergraduate and medical school, matched into Psychiatry at Charles R. Drew University.

Virginia Xie, who will train in Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Minnesota, is the first in her family to pursue an advanced degree, study a STEM field, or become a doctor, highlighting the diverse backgrounds represented in the graduating class.

KPSOM’s curriculum emphasizes three core pillars: Biomedical Science, Clinical Science, and Health Systems Science, incorporating many of the most innovative and effective educational practices available today while preparing graduates to address broader healthcare challenges beyond individual patient care, according to program materials provided by the institution.

“These future physicians will have the opportunity to incorporate invaluable skills they have acquired in patient-centered care, population health, and health equity in the next stage of their professional journeys,” the statement concluded.