WVU Health Sciences programs rank high in U.S. News

Rural Medicine in top 10, Pharmacy No. 26  

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University School of Medicine has once again ranked in the top 10 programs nationwide for rural medicine, tying at number nine. The WVU School of Pharmacy tied at No. 26 on the list of best pharmacy schools in the country. The rankings are published in the latest issue of U.S. News and World Report’s 2013 edition of “America’s Best Graduate Schools” and available online at USNews.com.  

Other School of Medicine programs had notable rankings: primary care at 52, physical therapy at 63, research at 86 and occupational therapy at 116.

The medical school rankings are based on ratings by medical school deans and senior faculty in the nation’s 126 accredited medical schools and 23 accredited schools of osteopathic medicine.  

“As the medical school at our state’s land grant university we are here for West Virginians,” WVU School of Medicine Dean Arthur Ross, III, M.D., M.B.A., said. “Working hard to improve their health and wellness is part of everything we do – all day, every day.”

The School of Pharmacy’s No. 26 ranking among 124 schools of pharmacy is a significant jump from its 2008 rank (the last time pharmacy schools were rated).

“For the past four years, the faculty and staff of the WVU School of Pharmacy have diligently worked to give West Virginia a Top 25 school. Today, we are celebrating the fact that we have dramatically improved our ranking from number 32 to number 26,” WVU School of Pharmacy Dean Patricia Chase, Ph.D., said. “This ranking shows that we are truly recognized by our peers as a school that is dedicated to providing our students with a high-quality education and environment.”

This year’s edition of “America’s Best Graduate Schools” also included the nursing school ratings from 2011, which listed the WVU School of Nursing as one of the top 100 schools of nursing in the country.

“Our health sciences faculty continue to invest their time, energy and talent to raise the academic reputation of their schools to ensure that students receive the highest quality education, and our mission to serve the state of West Virginia is fulfilled,” Christopher C. Colenda, M.D., M.P.H., chancellor for health sciences, said. “We transform many lives in order to make a difference in the health and well-being of West Virginians.”

Other graduate programs at WVU were included in the rankings, topped by the No. 18 ranking of the ceramics program in the College of Creative Arts. Other top 50 programs were aerospace, aeronautical and astronautical engineering, Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, 39; and clinical psychology, Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, 42. Also, for the third straight year, WVU's College of Law was recognized as a “Top Tier” school by the publication.

The publication bases its rankings on surveys of experts and statistical indicators.

The U.S. News and World Report 2013 edition of “America’s Best Graduate Schools” will be available in bookstores April 3 or online at U.S. News Store.