Six graduate educational programs at the University of Nebraska Medical
Center have been ranked by U.S. News and World Report among the top programs
in the country. The rankings appear in the April 10 issue of the
U.S. News & World Reports Best Graduate Schools guidebook.
The six programs are: College of Medicine rural health medicine program
(ranked 19th of 125) and primary care program (ranked 40th of 133);
the School of Allied Health Professions Physician Assistant program (ranked
8th of 40) and the Physical Therapy program (ranked 33rd of 144); the College
of Pharmacys Doctor of Pharmacy program (ranked 25th of 81); and College
of Nursing masters degree program (ranked 36 of 269). All are ranked for
2001 with the exception of the College of Pharmacy which is ranked for
the year 2000. Below are results for each program.
The rankings were compiled from surveys sent to deans, faculty, administrators
and medical residency program directors of accredited graduate programs.
They were asked to use a 5-point scale with 5 being the best score to rate
only the schools within their disciplines. Ratings were based on scholarship,
curriculum and quality of the programs faculty and graduate students.
We are pleased to see UNMCs educational programs ranked among the
very best, said Harold M. Maurer, M.D., UNMC chancellor. The faculty,
staff and students at UNMC are among the very best, sincerely dedicated
to improving the health of Nebraskans. We are preparing the best-educated
health professionals and scientists, and we are working hard toward raising
the educational standards of all our academic programs.”
Six UNMC graduate programs ranked by U.S. News & World Report are:
UNMC College of Medicine
— Rural Health Medicine Program Ranked 19th of the 125 accredited
medical schools surveyed — Innovative programs such as the family practice
preceptorship, the rural training track, the Rural Health Education Network
and the Rural Health Opportunities Program help address the shortage of
health professionals in rural Nebraska. In 1999, UNMC celebrated its 50th
anniversary of its rural preceptorship program one of the first in the
United States. More than 134 rural family medicine physicians from 58 communities
participate in the program. Started in 1949 as an elective and then required
since 1971, the program provides medical students experience in a rural
medical setting. The program is the fourth oldest in the country and at
eight weeks, is the longest required rural rotation.
–UNMC College of Medicines Primary Care Program Ranked 40th
of the 125 accredited U.S. medical schools plus 19 schools of osteopathic
medicine surveyed — Rankings were based on the percentage of graduated
medical students from the school entering primary-care residencies, averaged
over 1997, 1998 and 1999. This year, 64 percent of students were placed
in primary care residencies. Primary care includes family medicine, pediatrics,
obstetrics/gynecology and internal medicine. Primary care physicians are
in high demand in Nebraska, especially in many rural areas where there
is a shortage of physicians. UNMC works with state agencies and communities
across Nebraska to reduce the shortages of physicians and health professionals
in Nebraska. UNMC curriculum and clinical experiences are designed to increase
interest in primary care and in rural health careers.
UNMC College of Pharmacy
— Doctor of Pharmacy Program Ranked 25th of the 81
accredited programs surveyed the UNMC College of Pharmacy, founded in
1915, was the third school of pharmacy to offer the doctor of pharmacy
degree in the country. More than 50 percent of the practicing pharmacists
in Nebraska graduated from the college. The program curriculum develops
the pharmaceutical science and knowledge base and communication, and problem
solving skills that allow students to apply their knowledge of drugs and
therapeutics in a wide variety of pharmacy careers. Graduates have performed
above the national average on the pharmacy licensing examination annually
since records first were kept.
UNMC College of Nursing
— Masters Degree Programs Ranked 36th of 269 masters programs
surveyed by the National League for Nursing — The UNMC College of Nursing
is the largest nursing school in the state with 700 students enrolled at
its four locations in Omaha, Lincoln, Kearney and Scottsbluff. The program
has about 150 students enrolled in one of the following specialities: primary
care family health, health systems nurse specialists (community health,
administration and informatics) womens and childrens health, psychiatric/mental
health, adult health and illness, and gerontology and geropsychiatric nursing.
It is the only nursing program in the state that offers all three degrees:
bachelors, masters and doctoral.
UNMC School of Allied Health Professions
— Physician Assistant Program Ranked 8th of 40 accredited
programs surveyed physician assistants practice the art and science of
medicine under the general supervision of physicians. As members
of the health-care team, they provide a wide variety of medical care from
diagnosing, treating and prescribing for common medical problems to assisting
in surgery. The 28-month program accepts 40 students each year into
its program. About 70 percent of Nebraskas practicing PAs graduated from
UNMC. Last year, students had a 94 percent pass rate on national accreditation
exams compared to the national average of 91 percent.
— Physical Therapy Program — Ranked 33rd of the 144 accredited
programs surveyed — The three-year masters degree in physical therapy
program accepts 40 students into its program each year. About 35 percent
of Nebraskas practicing physical therapists graduated from UNMC. In the
last 10 years, seven UNMC students have been recipients of the Mary McMillan
Scholarship Award, the top national honor from the American Physical Therapy
Association. In 1995, 1996 and 1998, UNMC students received the associations
Minority Scholarship for Academic Excellence. In the last five years, UNMC
students have averaged a 97 percent first- time pass rate on the national
boards, compared to the national average of 80 percent.
U.S. News has ranked graduate schools since 1987 and has published annual
reports since 1990. The editors of the book say a ranking is one
of the criteria students should consider when selecting a graduate school
in addition to the student’s academic and professional ambitions, financial
resources, scholastic record, along with a school’s size, atmosphere and
location. Rankings from the Best Graduate Schools are available online
at www.usnews.com.
UNMC is the only public academic health science center in the state.
Through its commitment to research, education, outreach and patient care,
UNMC has established itself as one of the country’s leading centers for
cancer research and treatment, solid organ transplantation and arthritis.
During the past year, nearly $31 million in research grants and contracts
were awarded to UNMC scientists, and UNMCs funding from the National Institutes
of Health increased by 28 percent, going from $16.2 million to $20.7 million.
UNMCs educational programs are responsible for training more health professionals
practicing in Nebraska than any other institution.