(EDITOR’S NOTE: The number of institutions surveyed has been revised. More institutions were surveyed than originally reported in UNMC Today.)
UNMC’s push for quality academics is reflected in the latest U.S.News & World Report’s ranking of the country’s graduate schools, which show UNMC programs are making a steady climb among the nation’s top programs.
For the first time, the UNMC College of Medicine’s primary care program made the top 10 in the U.S.News & World Report’s “America’s Best Graduate School” guidebook. In addition, UNMC’s rural medicine program jumped several spots to tie for sixth place.
In all, four UNMC programs were ranked among the nation’s top graduate programs in the magazine’s latest academic rankings, which were released Friday. The annual health disciplines rankings are reported in the magazine’s 2008 edition of America’s Best Graduate Schools.
The following UNMC programs were recognized in this year’s rankings:
- the College of Medicine’s primary care program (ranked 10th out of 145 schools surveyed, up from 11th place);
- the College of Medicine’s rural health medicine program (tied for sixth out of 145 schools surveyed, up from ninth place);
- the College of Nursing’s master’s degree program (ranked 32nd out of 396 programs surveyed, up from 39th); and
- the School of Allied Health Professions’ physician assistant program (maintained its position, tying for 14th out of 106 programs surveyed).
In addition, these UNMC programs are included in the guidebook, although they were not freshly ranked for 2008:
- the College of Pharmacy (tied for 27th out of 88 schools surveyed); and
- the School of Allied Health Professions’ physical therapy program (tied for 31st out of 194 programs surveyed).
“We continue to move in the right direction,” said Rubens Pamies, M.D., UNMC’s vice chancellor for academic affairs. “Once again the rankings show that we are providing a top-notch learning environment for our students, and, with new state-of-the-art facilities going up on campus, I only see UNMC continuing to climb in these rankings.”
Highlights of graduate school rankings will be published in the April 9 edition of U.S. News & World Report magazine, which is available for newsstand purchase today. America’s Best Graduate Schools guidebook goes on sale Tuesday.
Rankings from the “Best Graduate Schools” are available online at www.usnews.com. The online edition includes longer lists of some specialty rankings, as well as additional school directory information.
The U.S. News & World Report rankings on primary care are based on two types of data: expert opinion about program quality and statistical indicators that measure the quality of a school’s faculty, research and students. The data comes from surveys conducted in the fall of 2006.
Rankings for the health specialties — including rural medicine, nursing and physician assistant — are based solely on the ratings of academic experts.
UNMC officials encourage students to use many sources when selecting a graduate or professional program. Editors 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.
The annual America’s Best Graduate Schools report began in 1990.
What others are saying
“Without question, UNMC is on a roll. These ratings should be great news for the entire state, as they are indicative of the high quality of education that we are providing to our students.”
John Gollan, M.D., Ph.D., dean, College of Medicine
“I believe our program is outstanding because of our excellent PA faculty and staff, the outstanding cooperation and helpfulness of the faculty from the College of Medicine, and the dedicated physicians and PAs who unselfishly give their time and expertise to teaching our students in the clinical settings across Nebraska as clinical preceptors when our students are doing their clerkships. All of these individuals work so well together to provide a comprehensive education for our really great students.”
Jim Somers, Ph.D., associate professor and director of the physician assistant program
“I’m delighted to see this affirmation of the quality of our master’s degree program. With our strong emphasis on clinical specialty care, this master’s program ensures that Nebraskans throughout the state benefit from advanced practice nurses who graduate from UNMC. I am pleased — but not surprised — that the UNMC College of Nursing master’s program ranks in the top 12 percent of master’s programs in the country.”
Virginia Tilden, D.N.Sc., dean, College of Nursing
“We are happy with the recognition of the long standing efforts to address the health care needs of the State of Nebraska. The focus on primary care and of the needs of our rural citizens has been supported by UNMC, the various colleges and the legislature. Though we have accomplished much, continued dialogue and modification of current programs will be necessary to meet the challenges that both primary care and rural health care are facing today and in the future.”
Michael Sitorius, chairman of UNMC Family Medicine and director of the Nebraska AHEC Program Office
“This has come about due to the willingness of UNMC, the colleges and the department of family medicine to be innovative in addressing the needs of the State of Nebraska. We also have strong support from the state legislature and practitioners in the state.”
Jeff Harrison, M.D., associate professor and residency program director in the department of family medicine