For the first time in its history, the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio was named a top 50 medical school in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Grad Schools for 2022.
The Long School of Medicine was ranked 46th, up from 67th in the rankings of medical schools training primary care physicians. While there are 156 medical schools nationally, only 123 received any rankings. In the newly added category of best medical schools for diversity, the Long School of Medicine ranked a remarkable 16th in the nation, and 1st in the state of Texas.
“The Long School of Medicine’s rankings recognize our efforts to inspire each new class of medical students to become the best prepared and most innovative physicians for our community,” said Robert Hromas, MD, FACP, dean of the Long School of Medicine and vice president for medical affairs at UT Health San Antonio. “We are especially proud of the top 50 rankings in primary care and diversity since our region is so diverse and needs primary care physicians so desperately. These rankings would not have occurred without our strong partnership with University Hospital.”
U.S. News & World Report produces the medical school rankings each year to help prospective medical students determine the best options for their medical career path. Only fully accredited programs in good standing during the survey period are ranked. Methodology for rankings is based on faculty resources, academic achievement of entering students and their career paths, and reputational assessments by other schools’ deans and residency directors.
U.S. News & World Report determines rankings for most diverse medical schools by both the enrollment percentage of underrepresented minorities (African American, Hispanic, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders) and the ratio of that percentage to state numbers. UT Health San Antonio is nationally designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution, and the Long School of Medicine’s impressive ranking in this new category is a reflection of the institution’s dedication to improving health outcomes for the diverse population it serves.
“Diversifying the medical workforce is essential to meeting the needs of a growing, diverse patient population, especially here in South Texas,” said Chiquita Collins, PhD, chief diversity officer and vice dean for Inclusion and Diversity for the Long School of Medicine and associate vice president of Inclusive Excellence and Health Equity for UT Health San Antonio. “Inclusive excellence is core to our mission. It is a great accomplishment to be ranked among the top 20 diverse medical schools in the nation and number one in the state of Texas! It is a testament to intentional, collective effort in our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. The Long School of Medicine is honored to be recognized by U.S. News & World Report in its first-ever rankings on diversity.”
The Long School of Medicine was also ranked 52nd among research medical schools, improving its position from 55th last year.
The school’s overall rankings in primary care, research and diversity demonstrate the unique blend of strong training in clinical care and scientific discovery within a diverse learning environment that benefits its students and the community it serves.
“We should feel very proud, because all of these rankings really represent the work and dedication by so many people,” said Deborah Conway, MD, interim vice dean for Undergraduate Medical Education in the Long School of Medicine. “And especially for the student diversity ranking, it represents a trust that underrepresented students in medicine place in us. That said, we can be proud and we can still be hungry to continue to do better, and I think that really is the mark of our school and our campus. We work hard to take care of each other, take care of our community and take care of our learners, and we are hungry to continue to do better.”