The Class of 2026 looks on as Edwing Daniel, PhD, MCOM dean of admissions, gives his presentation about who makes up the class.
Excitement and anticipation filled the atmosphere at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and Heart Institute today as the medical students of the Class of 2026 celebrated their first official day of class.
The admission team, led by Edwing Daniel, PhD, sorted through more than 5,600 applicants to select the best and brightest candidates that come from a wide variety of backgrounds including an Olympic fencer, an Indian folk dancer, and a few NCAA athletes from five Division 1 sports.
In his address to the class, Charles Lockwood, MD, MHCM, dean of MCOM and USF Health senior vice president, told the students how much the school has grown since he joined eight years ago. The number of research grants has nearly tripled, clinical revenue has nearly doubled, performance on the USMLE Step 1 and 2 exams are well above the national average, and USF Health has strengthened its relationship Tampa General Hospital, its primary teaching hospital. Dr. Lockwood also reiterated to the group the resources available to them as they navigate the next four years transforming from student to doctor.
Charles Lockwood, MD, MHCM, MCOM dean and USF Health senior vice president addressing the medical students of the Class of 2026.
“You have joined us at a momentous time in our history, a period when our medical school is making great advances in all three of our core missions of education, research, and patient care,” Dr. Lockwood said. “But you are also joining us during a transformative moment for the field of medicine, coming off of a major public health crisis of the past century with long-lasting implications for the practice of medicine across the globe.”
Class of 2026 profile:
177 students – 121 Core, 56 SELECT
54% Female, 46% Male
18% Under-represented minorities
Undergraduate Education: 58% Out of State, 42% In State
3.91 average GPA*
More images from the first day of class:
*This story was updated with more current info that includes GPAs.
