WEST DES MOINES, IOWA (March 25, 2025) — The Des Moines University (DMU) College of Osteopathic Medicine Class of 2025 has achieved a 99% match rate in the 2025 National Resident Matching Program. The results, announced March 21, mark another milestone in DMU's longstanding success in preparing future physicians.
Robert Gallagher, a native of Bettendorf, Iowa, was one of 208 in the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program to match for residency. Gallagher will begin Surgery-General residency at Carolinas Med Center-NC in Charlotte, North Carolina, after commencement in May.
Zoheb Khan, a native of Bettendorf, Iowaa, was one of 208 in the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program to match for residency. Khan will begin Emergency Medicine residency at HCA Houston Healthcare/U Houston-TX in Kingwood, Texas, after commencement in May.
"We are incredibly proud of our students and the hard work they have put into reaching this moment," says David Connett DO FACOFP (dist), Dean of DMU's College of Osteopathic Medicine. "Match Day is the culmination of years of hard work and a launching point for these future physicians. We are excited about the impact they will have in Iowa and beyond."
DMU's 2025 Mach Day was held for the first time in person at the university's 8025 Grand Ave campus, where students, faculty, and families gathered to celebrate. At 11AM CDT, students discovered where they would begin the next phase of their medical training.
"Match Day is one of the most defining moments in a physician's career," says Jennifer Beaty MD FACS FSCRS, Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education and Designated Institutional Official. "It's the culmination of years of hard work and signals the start of their residency journey. No matter where they are headed, we know they will bring excellence and compassion to their patients and communities."
The class matched into diverse specialties across the United States, with particularly strong representation in primary care fields, where demand is high. Among the 208 students in DMU's Class of 2025, the top residency specialty placements this year include:
- Internal Medicine — 36
- Family Medicine — 34
- Emergency Medicine — 31
- Pediatrics — 25
- Psychiatry — 18
This year, 32 students were matched to residency programs in Iowa, the highest match state of the DMU 2025 class. The top residency specialty placements for those staying in Iowa include:
- Family Medicine — 10
- Psychiatry — 9
- Emergency Medicine — 5
- Internal Medicine — 3
- Pediatrics — 3
- Anesthesiology — 2
The other top states among the 36 states where their residencies are located include:
- Michigan — 22
- Illinois — 20
- California — 13
- Ohio — 13
- Minnesota — 12
According to the National Resident Matching Program, this year's 92.6% DOs matched, totaling 8,049, an increase of 361 more than in 2024. This is the fourth consecutive year DMU osteopathic medicine graduates have achieved a placement rate above the national average. Check out the full list of students and their residencies here.
The 2025 match took place amid a growing demand for physicians nationwide, particularly in rural areas. DMU continues to contribute to mitigating this need through efforts to place graduates in residency programs that will help address regional and national health care challenges. With Iowa facing a growing physician shortage, Governor Kim Reynolds's recent proposal to fund 115 new residency slots in the state is a crucial step toward expanding health-care access in Iowa.
DMU's success in placing students in Iowa-based residencies aligns with this initiative, helping to ensure more trained physicians stay in the state to serve its communities.
Located in West Des Moines, part of Iowa's capital metro, Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences offers ten graduate-level professional-degree programs in anatomy, biomedical sciences, health-care administration, occupational therapy, osteopathic medicine, physical therapy, physician-assistant studies, podiatric medicine, and public health. Founded in 1898, the institution offers superior academics in a collaborative environment. DMU students' scores on national examinations, pass-rates on board certifications and match-rates for medical residency programs are consistently higher than national averages and rates at peer institutions.
