PNWU was recently ranked second in the nation for graduates practicing in primary care specialties, as well as second for most graduates practicing in underserved areas, according to U.S. News and World Report’s Best Medical Schools list.
66% of PNWU graduates reported practice in a primary care specialty, and 27% reported practice in a Medically Underserved Area.
“This is mission fulfillment for PNWU,” said Dr. Michael Lawler, president of PNWU, “and it is made possible by mission-driven students, alumni, faculty, staff, trustees, and community members who are all deeply committed to quality health care for rural and medically underserved communities.”
Osteopathic medical schools made up nine of the top 10 U.S. medical schools with the most graduates practicing in primary care specialties, and four of the top ten for graduates practicing in underserved areas. With only 37 osteopathic medical schools operating at 58 sites, and 151 MD schools in the U.S., the high representation of DO schools means osteopathic physicians are making an outsize contribution to primary care and medical care in rural and underserved areas, explained American Osteopathic Association (AOA) reporter Rose Raymond.
“Osteopathic medical schools have always had a disproportional percentage of graduates going into primary care specialties and then practicing in rural and medically underserved communities,” explained Dr. Thomas Scandalis, dean of PNWU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM). “PNWU is proud to carry that tradition forward, and to become a national leader in these areas is truly gratifying.”
To create the primary care list, U.S. News ranked medical schools by the percentage of their 2012-2014 graduates practicing direct patient care in primary care specialties. For their underserved areas list, schools were ranked by the percentage of their 2012-2014 graduates practicing direct patient care in Health Professional Shortage Areas.