UMass Medical School First in New England for Primary Care

The annual U.S. News & World Report rankings of the best graduate schools names UMass Medical School first in all of New England for primary care education.  UMMS ranks in the top 10 percent nationwide in primary care, coming in 15th among 152 medical schools and 33 schools of osteopathic medicine surveyed by the weekly news magazine in its 2020 edition of the Best Graduate Schools. The 2020 U.S. News report also marks a rise for UMMS in research, this year ranking 45th.

"UMass Medical School is a world-class institution with primary care education at our core, dedicated to training physician leaders in innovative, evidence-based, patient-centered care," said Chancellor Michael F. Collins.  "This ranking is another affirmation of the talent, experience, and commitment of our faculty to teach compassionate health care providers to serve Massachusetts and beyond."

The School of Medicine has grown significantly in recent years, expanding the class to 162 students, accepting a limited number of highly-qualified students from out of state, and enrolling students in the new Population-based Urban and Rural Community Health (PURCH) program, based at the new regional campus in Springfield. UMass Medical School-Baystate, a partnership with Baystate Health, trains primary care doctors in urban and rural community health, exemplifying the institutional commitment to developing primary care physicians.

"UMass Medical School provides high-quality, affordable education for the next generation of doctors, many of whom will stay in Massachusetts to serve their neighbors and communities," said Marty Meehan, president of the University of Massachusetts. "This ranking is but one more reason to be extremely proud of the commonwealth's world-class public medical school."

A large percentage of each year's graduating class from the School of Medicine enters primary care residency programs.  Additionally, more than half of each class stays in Massachusetts for residency.

"Just as we are preparing to celebrate successful residency matches for more than 125 of our graduating students at leading hospitals across the country, we are again named one of the best medical schools for primary care and we couldn't be prouder," said Terence R. Flotte, MD, the Celia and Isaac Haidak Professor of Medical Education, executive deputy chancellor, provost and dean of the School of Medicine.  "The tireless dedication of our faculty, mentors, and students to our core missions of education, research, and patient care distinguishes our medical education program."

U.S. News & World Report surveyed and ranked 152 medical schools accredited in 2018 by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education and 33 schools of osteopathic medicine accredited by the American Osteopathic Association based on measures of academic quality, which are weighted by reputation among faculty and residents, research activity, student selectivity, and faculty resources.  UMMS has been listed near the top of the category since 1994 when the magazine began publishing the rankings.