Celebrating the 2026 Headache Medicine Fellowship Match

The American Headache Society is excited to welcome the next generation of headache medicine practitioners! The 2026 Headache Medicine Fellowship Match took place on August 6 with a 95% match rate, placing 59 residents into headache medicine programs nationwide. This annual milestone, in collaboration with the National Resident Matching Program® (NRMP®), pairs promising  residents with fellowship training programs.

The Headache Medicine Fellowship Committee co-chairs Anna Pace, MD, FAHS, and Carrie O. Dougherty, MD, FAHS, take pride in building momentum within the field. “Every year, we're amazed by how much this Match continues to grow,” says Dr. Pace. “More programs are participating, more positions are being offered, and more talented physicians are choosing headache medicine as their career.” 

Hear congratulatory remarks from the Committee:

The incoming class includes 41 MD graduates, 9 DO graduates, 5 international medical graduates, 3 U.S. citizens trained abroad, and 1 Canadian applicant. Applicants will begin their fellowships in 2027 at renowned programs across the country. These institutions will provide fellows with advanced training and extensive experience across headache and facial pain medicine, patient populations, and care settings. Many also offer meaningful research and clinical writing opportunities.

This year, 52 headache medicine programs enrolled in the Match, offering 71 certified positions. Overall, 78% of programs and 83% of positions were filled, in line with the 2025 Match. The Headache Medicine Fellowship Committee encourages unmatched applicants to explore the unfilled positions and apply directly with the institution. Visit the Headache Medicine Fellowship page to view unfilled fellowship positions and program details.

AHS and the Headache Medicine Fellowship Committee look forward to supporting the fellows in their future endeavors. “To the 59 fellows who matched — congratulations. You're joining a community of clinicians deeply committed to advancing this field, and we can't wait to see what you'll do,” says Dr. Pace. AHS offers a $25 membership to medical students, residents, fellows, and others currently enrolled in graduate or postgraduate training interested in head medicine. Learn more about our Trainee Membership.