Several UF Health graduate programs ranked among nation’s best
In its annual rankings of the nation’s best graduate schools, U.S. News & World Report has ranked graduate programs within the University of Florida’s colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Public Health and Health Professions, and Veterinary Medicine among the top 50 schools of their type in the country.
The UF College of Medicine is ranked No. 43 among the Top 50 best research medical schools, according to the U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Schools rankings released today. Among public medical schools, UF now ranks No. 17 nationally and is the highest-ranked medical school in the state of Florida. Each year, U.S. News & World Report ranks the nation’s accredited medical schools after evaluating factors such as National Institutes of Health research funding, the MCAT scores of incoming medical students, faculty-to-student ratios and peer assessments from leaders of other medical schools. When all of these parameters are considered, the publication compiles a list of the top medical schools in the country.
The College of Medicine has managed to increase its research funding from the National Institutes of Health each year for the past six years despite shrinking or flat national budgets for research. The college also revamped its curriculum in recent years and is preparing to unveil a new medical education building in the fall.
“We provide an outstanding medical education to our students and prepare them to provide the best care possible to patients. Our faculty and students are some of the finest in the country, and this recognition reflects that,” said Timothy Flynn, M.D., senior associate dean for clinical affairs at the UF College of Medicine.
The UF College of Nursing’s master’s degree program was ranked No. 48 out of 246 programs. Although the college offers several graduate programs, U.S. News & World Report ranks nursing schools specifically related to their master’s degree programs. Nursing programs were last ranked in the publication’s 2012 edition.
The nursing rankings were based on similar factors to those considered in determining medical school standings, such as peer reviews, grade point averages, faculty-student ratios and research activity.
“We are proud of the rich legacy of our advanced practice nursing education program. We value the contributions of our graduates and faculty members in enhancing the health outcomes of patients and families in our state and across the nation,” said Anna McDaniel, Ph.D., R.N., dean of the UF College of Nursing.
U.S. News & World Report recognized several other graduate programs at UF Health this year as well, although the rankings of other health graduate programs were determined on the basis of peer reviews only.
Specifically, the College of Veterinary Medicine was ranked No. 14 among schools of veterinary medicine. The School of Physician Assistant Studies within the College of Medicine was ranked No. 27. In addition, two programs within the College of Public Health and Health Professions received rankings this year: the college’s public health graduate program was ranked No. 30, and its health care management program was also ranked No. 30.
“Student by student, our graduate education programs are laying a solid foundation for the future of health care, and we are pleased that the successes of so many of our programs have been recognized,” said David S. Guzick, M.D., Ph.D., UF senior vice president for health affairs and president of UF Health.