U.S. News ranks Rowan School of Osteopathic Medicine among “America’s Best”

In its annual rankings released this week, U.S. News & World Report includes Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine among America’s top medical schools for both Primary Care and Geriatrics.

The newly released rankings, which are for the year 2018, list the Stratford-based medical school in a four-way tie – with Columbia University, Thomas Jefferson University and the University of Illinois – for 51st place out of 118 medical schools that submitted data about their primary care programs. This is the first time that the publication has recognized the School of Osteopathic Medicine for its Primary Care programs and results from an analysis of data submitted by each school, including the percentage of recent graduates who entered residency programs in family practice, pediatrics and internal medicine.

In addition to Primary Care, US News & World Report also ranks all fully accredited American medical schools for Research and eight specialty areas, including Geriatrics. For the specialty areas, U.S. News asks deans and senior administrators of medical schools to nominate up to 10 schools offering the best programs in each discipline. Rowan’s selection for Geriatrics is the 16th time the School of Osteopathic Medicine has received recognition for its programs in this increasingly important field. U.S. News ranked the school in a tie with the University of Alabama and immediately after Mayo Clinic School of Medicine, the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University.

“By any measure, this is a significant achievement,” said Rowan University President Dr. Ali A. Houshmand. “Being acknowledged nationally by U.S. News in this and in prior years, is a tribute to the talent and dedication of the physicians, faculty, administrators and staff of Rowan’s School of Osteopathic Medicine.”

Dr. Thomas Cavalieri, Dean of Rowan School of Osteopathic Medicine, noted the special significance of the school’s two selections.

“The expanded access to health insurance and our rapidly aging population have pushed primary care and geriatrics to the forefront of America’s health care delivery system,” he said. “Both are vitally important to the well-being of tens of millions of our citizens.”

Dr. Cavalieri, who is a geriatrician and the founder of the Rowan’s acclaimed New Jersey Institute for Successful Aging, added that the medical school’s repeated recognition for its Geriatrics program reflects a commitment that began decades before 10,000 baby-boomers began reaching age 65 every day.

“We are very proud of the fact that we were one of the first schools in the country to require all medical students to receive specific training in geriatrics,” he said. “Being included, once again, on the US News & World Report list validates our commitment to continue the excellence in clinical care, education and innovative research that enhances the lives of our fellow citizens.”