UW School of Medicine celebrates 23 years as nation's #1 program for primary care education
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
The University of Washington School of Medicine Celebrates 23 Years as the Nation’s #1 Ranked Program for Primary Care Education
U.S. News & World Report’s ‘Best Graduate Schools’ 2018 also ranked the UW School of Medicine #1 for both family medicine and rural medicine training
Today, the University of Washington School of Medicine (UWSOM) and Gonzaga University announce the medical school again ranks No. 1 in the nation for primary care education in the latest U.S. News & World Report ‘Best Graduate Schools,’ 2018 edition. This is the 23rd time in the 24 years of this U.S. News ranking category that it has held the No. 1 primary care position.
Additionally, both family medicine and rural medicine training continue with a No. 1 ranking for the 26th consecutive year. Other notable national rankings for UWSOM programs include No. 5 for pediatrics (children’s healthcare), tied at No. 6 for internal medicine (adolescent through adult healthcare), No. 7 for geriatrics (elder healthcare), and No. 8 for drug and alcohol abuse training.
And UWSOM continues its distinction as the No. 1 recipient among public universities for the amount of federal research funding it receives (second to Harvard overall).
U.S. News ranks the nation’s graduate and professional schools through a weighted average of several indicators, including admissions selectivity, faculty/student ratios and peer assessments.
"We are so proud that the UW School of Medicine has retained its number one rankings in primary care, family medicine and rural medicine education,” said Darryl Potyk, M.D., Chief for Medical Education, UW School of Medicine-Gonzaga University Regional Health Partnership. “This honor speaks to the quality, expertise and commitment of our talented faculty, staff and students in Spokane, and our talented clinical partners throughout the state. And without decades of support from our state legislators we would not have a medical education program, much less one that is preeminent in the U.S.”
“Our unique partnerships with the states of Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho (WWAMI), established decades ago, provide varied and well-rounded clinical experiences for our students. Our partnerships are integral to our ongoing success,” said Suzanne Allen, M.D., Vice Dean for Academic, Rural and Regional Affairs. “By educating students in their home states, and for our Spokane students—their home city—our goal is to help provide the physician workforce needed to meet the demand in their communities.”
Each year U.S. News ranks schools using two types of data – the opinions of experts about program excellence and statistical information on the quality of faculty, research and students. Medical schools are ranked overall in two categories, primary care and research, as well as in training in specific clinical fields, such as family medicine and rural medicine.
The UW School of Medicine serves as the only public allopathic medical school in Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho through its WWAMI program which provides medical education across the five-state region. The WWAMI program is a key element in UWSOM’s nationally recognized success in teaching rural medicine, family medicine and primary care.
