It's one of the most exciting days in a medical student's education. Known as Match Day, it's the day when students learn where they will complete their residency training. And for the second year in a row, more graduating U.S. medical students matched to residencies in primary care.

Drexel University College of Medicine's Class of 2011 was on par with the national trend. Of the 268 graduating students, 64 chose internal medicine. Pediatrics and anesthesiology were next with 32 students each, followed by emergency medicine, family medicine and orthopedic surgery. Other areas of study include general surgery, radiology, obstetrics-gynecology, ophthalmology and psychiatry.

At the traditional event – celebrated on the same day at medical schools around the globe - students simultaneously open sealed envelopes containing the name and location of their residency training. Drexel's Match Day was held at the Queen Lane Campus and began with a champagne toast delivered by president and Annenberg Dean Richard V. Homan, MD. As the students tore open their envelopes, screams of excitement and tears followed, as proud family members and friends snapped photos.

According to data released by the National Resident Matching Program, the total number of positions in the nationwide Match exceeded 26,000 for the first time. Primary care specialties rose over 2010, with family medicine programs experiencing the strongest growth – up 11 percent over last year. Internal medicine matches rose 8 percent from 2010, and pediatrics saw an increase of 3 percent.