The 2018 graduating class of the UAB School of Medicine celebrated another successful Match Day on Friday, March 16. With 98 percent of students' matching into residency positions, UAB students will continue their medical educations at 74 institutions in 27 states across the country.

"Match Day symbolizes all the hard work put in at medical school coming to fruition," said Amber Abrams, who matched into psychiatry at UAB. "This has been a long journey, and it's so nice to see the light at the end of the tunnel."

Students waited in UAB's Alys Stephens Center until the envelope containing their residency matches was drawn, and then they announced their matches on stage.

The largest number of students -- 73 -- matched into primary care residency programs, which include family medicine, internal medicine and pediatrics. Students also matched into other medical specialties--including 37 in various surgical residencies, 13 in emergency medicine, 12 in obstetrics and gynecology, and eight in neurology.

UAB is also celebrating a successful recruitment for residents in its 35 residency programs. A total of 214 new residents, representing 60 U.S. and 27 international universities, will begin this summer in programs at Birmingham, Huntsville, Selma and Montgomery.