PNWU has once again been ranked a top-ten medical school in the United States in three major mission-related categories. U.S. News and World Report’s Best Grad Schools release lists the non-profit health sciences university second for graduates practicing in primary care fields, third for graduates practicing in medically underserved areas, and sixth for graduates practicing in rural areas.
“These national rankings reflect the fulfillment of our mission to serve rural and medically underserved communities,” explained Dr. Michael Lawler, president of PNWU. “Our mission-driven team of students, alumni, faculty, staff, trustees, partners, and community members make all of this possible.”
- Second in the nation for most graduates practicing in Primary Care Fields (45.5%)
- Third in the nation for most graduates practicing in Medically Underserved Areas (44.6%)
- Sixth in the nation for most graduates practicing in rural areas (17.9%)
45.5% of PNWU graduates reported practicing in a primary care field, 44.6% were practicing in medically underserved areas, and 17.9% reported practicing in a rural area.
“These rankings are proof that PNWU is doing what our founders set out to do from our inception, and in a sustainable way,” explained Thomas Scandalis, DO, dean of PNWU’s nationally ranked College of Osteopathic Medicine. “The 160 graduates at our upcoming commencement ceremony will only further our impact on medically underserved and rural areas in Washington and the Northwest.”
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 percentage of each school’s 2013-2015 graduates practicing direct patient care in: (1.) medically underserved areas, also known as Health Professional Shortage Areas; (2.) rural areas of the U.S. These areas are defined using the USDA Rural-Urban Continuum Classification; and (3.) primary care fields. Primary care specialties included are family medicine, general internal medicine, general pediatrics, geriatrics, and internal medicine-pediatrics.