On Wednesday, July 24, U.S. News and World Report released their annual Best Grad Schools list, once again recognizing PNWU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine (PNWU-COM) as a national leader in three major mission-related categories.
This year, PNWU-COM was ranked third for graduates practicing in primary care fields, eleventh for graduates practicing in medically underserved areas, and fourth for graduates practicing in rural areas.
“We are honored to be recognized for our mission fulfillment in service to rural and medically underserved communities,” said PNWU President Dr. Michael Lawler. “These national rankings demonstrate the deep commitment to mission from all members of the PNWU community, including alumni, students, faculty, staff, trustees, and supporters.”
- Third, Most Graduates Practicing in Primary Care Fields (45.2%)
- Fourth, Most Graduates Practicing in Rural Areas (20.7%)
- Eleventh, Most Graduates Practicing in Health Professional Shortage Areas (40.5%)
45.2% of PNWU graduates reported practicing in a primary care field, 40.5% were practicing in Health Professional Shortage Areas, and 20.7% reported practicing in a rural area.
“This is the third consecutive year that PNWU has ranked near the top of all U.S medical schools in the areas that define our mission,” said Thomas Scandalis, DO, dean of PNWU’s nationally ranked COM. “Sustaining the rankings on a national level year after year means we have a model of student recruitment and education that results in our graduates practicing in areas with the greatest medical need.”
Since opening its doors to the first cohort of Osteopathic Medical Students in 2008, PNWU-COM has graduated over 1,300 osteopathic physicians under the University’s mission of educating and training health care professionals emphasizing service among rural and medically underserved communities throughout the Northwest. “This is a wonderful public acknowledgement of PNWU’s team effort to recruit, train, and return students from rural and health professions shortage areas to serve their own,” added PNWU Provost and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Wayne Miller.
U.S. News, working with the Robert Graham Center, a division of the American Academy of Family Physicians as the data provider, ranked medical schools by the following in each category:
Most Graduates Practicing in Primary Care Fields: The percentage of each school’s 2015-2017 medical and osteopathic graduates practicing direct patient care in primary care fields.
Most Graduates Practicing in Rural Areas: The percentage of each school’s 2015-2017 medical and osteopathic graduates practicing direct patient care in rural areas of the U.S. These areas are defined using the USDA Rural-Urban Continuum Classification.
Most Graduates Practicing in Health Professional Shortage Areas: The percentage of each school’s 2015-2017 medical and osteopathic graduates practicing direct patient care in medically underserved areas, also known as Health Professional Shortage Areas.