Growing Wyoming’s Physician Pipeline: UW Family Medicine Celebrates Successful Match Day

The University of Wyoming’s Department of Graduate Medical Education (GME) - Family Medicine remains committed to developing the next generation of family physicians prepared to meet the unique health care needs of Wyoming’s rural and urban communities.

To that end, the department, along with all three residency programs, recently filled their open residency positions during Match Day March 20.

The Casper Family Medicine Residency, the Cheyenne Family Medicine Residency and the Rural Training Track in Thermopolis each welcomed incoming residents, reflecting the continued strength and appeal of UW’s Graduate Medical Education programs, all part of the College of Health Sciences.

“As dean of the College of Health Sciences, I am proud that all of our family medicine residency programs fully matched in 2026, reflecting the strength and quality of our training programs and the dedication of our outstanding faculty and staff,” Patrick Hardigan says. “This achievement highlights the growing recognition of Wyoming as a leader in community-centered medical education and, most importantly, strengthens our ability to meet the health care needs of communities across the state.”

Nationally, this year’s match was historic for family medicine, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. More than 800 family medicine residencies offered a record-setting 5,512 positions in the National Resident Matching Program and set another record by filling 4,613 of those positions. Of those, U.S. allopathic and osteopathic medical school seniors and graduates combined to fill 3,066 positions, with international medical students and graduates accounting for an additional 1,547 filled positions.

Wyoming’s programs were proud to be part of that record-breaking momentum.

This year’s incoming class brings a wealth of geographic and academic backgrounds, with many residents sharing meaningful connections to Wyoming and the Mountain West region. The cohort represents a broad range of institutions, including Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine, Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine, the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine, the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences.

Each of these institutions shares a strong commitment to primary care and community-centered medicine -- values that align closely with Wyoming’s rural health mission.

“We are thrilled to welcome this outstanding group of incoming residents to our programs,” says Beth Robitaille, a physician and dedicated institutional officer for the Department of GME - Family Medicine. “The caliber and character of this class speak to the growing reputation of our programs and our shared commitment to training physicians who will serve Wyoming and rural communities across the region. We look forward to the contributions they will make both during their training and in their careers that follow.”