(Philadelphia, PA) – The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine is among the top three research-oriented medical schools in the nation, according to an annual survey of graduate schools by U.S.News & World Report. Penn is ranked #3 in the survey; and is the only medical school in the Delaware Valley to appear in the ranking. The complete survey will be available in the newsstand book, Best Graduate Schools, on April 3rd.

Penn was also ranked in the top ten in four specialty programs including Internal Medicine (#5), Drug/Alcohol Abuse (#6), Women’s Health (#4) and Pediatrics (#2). The School of Medicine was also ranked 16th among the top 50 medical schools for students going into primary care.

“Penn’s ranking in the survey is representative of the dedication and commitment of our faculty and staff. We are proud to continue our ongoing commitment to national leadership in medical education, patient care and research,” said Dr. Arthur Rubenstein, Dean of the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Medicine and Executive Vice President of the University of Pennsylvania for the Health System.

The criteria to determine the top research-oriented medical schools included quality assessment, research activity, faculty resources and student selectivity.

According to the survey results, the top three medical schools in rank order are: Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University and the University of Pennsylvania.

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PENN Medicine is a $2.9 billion enterprise dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, and high-quality patient care. PENN Medicine consists of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (founded in 1765 as the nation's first medical school) and the University of Pennsylvania Health System.

Penn's School of Medicine is ranked #2 in the nation for receipt of NIH research funds; and ranked #3 in the nation in U.S.News & World Report's most recent ranking of top research-oriented medical schools. Supporting 1,400 fulltime faculty and 700 students, the School of Medicine is recognized worldwide for its superior education and training of the next generation of physician-scientists and leaders of academic medicine.

The University of Pennsylvania Health System includes three hospitals [Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, which is consistently ranked one of the nation's few "Honor Roll" hospitals by U.S.News & World Report; Pennsylvania Hospital, the nation's first hospital; and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center]; a faculty practice plan; a primary-care provider network; two multispecialty satellite facilities; and home care and hospice.