U.S. News & World Report Rates COMs Among Nation’s Top Medical Schools

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Bethesda, MD) – The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) applauds its member schools for their impressive performance in the 2023 U.S. News & World Report’s Best Medical Schools rankings. Colleges of Osteopathic (COMs) are ranked first and second in two categories and many other COMs saw their rankings increase this year. COMs recognized as national leaders include:

• Medical Schools with Graduates Practicing Patient Care in Rural Areas:

• #1 William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine.
• #2 Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine at University of Pikeville

• Medical Schools with Most Graduates Practicing Primary Care:
• #1 Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine
• #2 Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine at University of Pikeville

“We are very proud and pleased to see our colleges earn this national recognition,” said AACOM President and CEO Robert A. Cain, DO. “Our mission is to enable every patient the opportunity to be treated by an osteopathic physician and our colleges are working very hard to make that a reality. From its inception, osteopathic medical education was based on the philosophy of healing the whole patient—mind, body and spirit. This philosophy continues to resonate with more and more students and patients. Application numbers continue to trend up and I’m very excited to see our graduates find residency opportunities in record numbers and across all medical specialties. Congratulations to all our member schools for this incredible success.”

Osteopathic medical students are taught using a distributed model of medical education where clinical training is received in and from community-based hospitals and physicians, so that students can learn more about the health care needs of the communities where they will eventually practice. COMs historically have been focused on improving healthcare access in rural and medically underserved communities and that is reflected in these rankings.

In addition to the top rankings noted above, other results include:

• Eight COMs ranked in the top 10, and 15 in the top 20, for most graduates practicing primary care:

• Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine #1
• Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine at University of Pikeville #2
• Western University of Health Sciences #3
• William Carey College of Osteopathic Medicine #4
• A.T. Still University of Health Sciences- Kirksville #5
• Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences #6
• Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University #7
• Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine- #9
• Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine at University of North Texas Health Sciences Center #11
• A.T. Still University of Health Sciences- Mesa #12 (tie)
• Touro University California #12 (tie)
• Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine at Ohio University #14
• Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences #17 (tie)
• Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University #17 (tie)
• West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine #19 (tie)

• Six COMs ranked in the top 10, and 10 in the top 20, for most graduates practicing in rural areas:
• William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine #1
• Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine at University of Pikeville #2
• Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine #5
• A.T. Still University of Health Sciences- Kirksville #6
• Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine#7
• Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences #10
• West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine #14
• Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine #15
• Rocky Vista University #16
• University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine #17

• Three COMs ranked in the top 10, and four in the Top 20 for most graduates practicing in medically underserved areas:
  •  William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine #4
  • Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences #5
  • Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine #7
  • Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine #14

About AACOM

The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) leads and advocates for the full continuum of osteopathic medical education to improve the health of the public. Founded in 1898 to support and assist the nation’s osteopathic medical schools, AACOM represents all 38 colleges of osteopathic medicine—educating nearly 34,000 future physicians, 25 percent of all U.S. medical students—at 59 teaching locations in 34 U.S. states, as well as osteopathic graduate medical education professionals and trainees at U.S. medical centers, hospitals, clinics and health systems.

Contacts

Joseph Shapiro
Director of Media Relations
(240) 938-0746
jshapiro@aacom.org

Christine DeCarlo
Media and Public Affairs Manager
(202) 603-1026
cdecarlo@aacom.org