LITTLE ROCK, Ark.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Panacea Financial, the financial technology platform built exclusively for doctors and their practices, today announced its fifth annual Match Day Giveaway, awarding $1,000 each to three medical students entering the 2026 residency match.
“Match Day represents one of the most significant milestones in a doctor’s journey, but it also comes with substantial financial stress – from application costs to moving and setting up a new life in a sometimes-unfamiliar city,” said Dr. Michael Jerkins, President and Co-Founder of Panacea Financial. “After going through the match process myself, I intimately understand these pressures. This giveaway reflects our commitment to supporting doctors at every stage, celebrating their achievements while helping ease the financial burdens that come with them.”
Supporting Doctors from Day One
Based on Panacea’s 2025 Residents & Fellows Survey Report surveying more than 450 U.S. medical residents and fellows, 53% of trainees said their financial stress was 8+ out of 10. It’s no wonder as the average student loan debt for residents and fellows was $296,540, with the highest reported student loan debt balance reaching $700,000. Founded by physicians Dr. Michael Jerkins and Dr. Ned Palmer alongside Tyler Stafford, CFA, Panacea Financial was built to address the unique financial challenges doctors face throughout their careers. The company’s Match Day initiative exemplifies this mission, providing immediate financial support during a high-stress transition while connecting medical students with longer-term resources designed specifically for their journey.
“The match process is both exhilarating and overwhelming. Beyond the emotional weight of finding out where you’ll spend the next chapter of your life, there are immediate practical concerns – security deposits, moving expenses, and travel costs – just to name a few,” said Dr. Ned Palmer, COO and Co-Founder of Panacea Financial. “We created this program because we remember what that felt like, and we wanted to do something meaningful to help.”
Past participants have shared how the support came at a crucial time. One 2025 winner who matched into Emergency Medicine noted, “When I found out I matched, I experienced every emotion possible in a 10-second span – excitement, relief, and disbelief. Knowing there was financial support available made the transition less daunting.”
Match Day 2026 Giveaway Details
The Match Day giveaway is open to all medical students entering the 2026 residency match. To enter, students must:
- Complete the entry form at panaceafinancial.com/matchday;
- Follow Panacea Financial on Instagram; and
- Engage with the company’s Match Day post.
The deadline for entries is March 31, 2026, with winners announced in early April 2026. Prize funds will be deposited directly into contestant’s Panacea checking accounts.
Medical students can enter the Match Day 2026 giveaway and access additional transitional resources at panaceafinancial.com/matchday.
About Panacea Financial
Panacea Financial Holdings, Inc. is a financial technology company dedicated exclusively to serving physicians, dentists, and veterinarians. Founded by doctors, Panacea delivers a vertically integrated financial platform — including lending, deposits, payments, and advisory services — designed to support doctors from education through practice ownership.
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