UNMC’s primary care program jumped two slots and is now ranked No. 4 in the country in the 2016 ranking of the nation’s top graduate schools by U.S. News & World Report.
In addition, UNMC’s physician assistant program also cracked the top 10 and is now ranked No. 9 by U.S. News, up seven spots from when the magazine last ranked PA programs in 2011.
In other rankings, 60th-ranked in research, up four spots from last year, and 39th in public health.
“UNMC continues to be recognized for the excellence of its primary care program, which is a testament to the work of our medical students and faculty,” said UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D. “It is exciting to see both the primary care and physician assistant program counted among the best in the nation, and to see continued growth in the national recognition of our College of Public Health and our research programs. This is truly the result of clear focus and hard work.”
U.S. News surveyed 130 medical schools and 26 schools of osteopathic medicine during 2014 and 2015 while compiling the rankings, which were released Tuesday. Schools surveyed were accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education or the American Osteopathic Association.
“These rankings offer a reason to take pride in UNMC,” said Dele Davies, M.D., vice chancellor for academic affairs. “Our educational mission at UNMC is a vital part of what we do, and these rankings for primary care and the physician assistant program emphasize our strong commitment to that mission.”
The primary care ranking included indicators such as student admission statistics (MCAT, GPA and acceptance rate), the percentage of graduates entering primary care residencies, peer assessment, assessment by residency program directors and other factors.
The research ranking included the total dollar amount of NIH research grants and the average amount of those grants per full-time medical school science and clinical faculty member. (For more on U.S. News’ methodology, click here.)
The rankings of the physician assistant programs, where UNMC placed ninth, are based on the results of peer assessment surveys sent to physician assistant programs accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant.
Although new rankings for 2015 weren’t available in all health care categories, UNMC continues to be ranked in three other programs:
- 93rd in biological sciences (last ranked in 2014);
- 32nd in pharmacy programs (last ranked in 2012);
- 34th in physical therapy programs (last ranked in 2012).