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                           JeffNEWS, April 1995
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U.S. News & World Report  Ranks Jefferson Medical College Among
`America's Best Medical Schools' for Primary-Care Physicians
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Jefferson Medical College (JMC) ranked among the nation's top 15 medical
schools that excel in training primary-care physicians. JMC's high ranking
appeared in the new primary-care subcategory of the annual survey of
"America's Best Medical Schools" in the March 20 issue of U.S. News & World
Report. The ranking is based on data obtained from two equally weighted
reputational surveys of deans and residency directors. 

"I'm always pleased to note the high level of regard that Jefferson Medical
College receives from the academic medicine community," says Joseph S.
Gonnella, MD, senior vice president for academic affairs and dean, JMC.
"We strive to provide our students with an exceptional education in primary
care as well as all other medical specialties." 

In previous years, the U.S. News rankings divided medical schools into two 
categories: research and comprehensive. However, as a result of the
increasing importance placed on training primary-care physicians, U.S. News
has now altered its categories to research, which includes all 125 medical
schools, and primary care, which includes the 62 schools that graduated the
highest share of MDs who elected to practice in the primary-care specialties
of family practice, general internal medicine and pediatrics. The category,
"comprehensive medical school," in which Jefferson has also excelled in
prior surveys by U.S. News & World Report, is no longer presented.

Jefferson Medical College, the largest, private medical school in the
United States, provides faculty and students with educational and research
opportunities that have been nationally recognized as among the best in the
country. Since its founding in 1824, the college has graduated over 26,000
students - more than any other American medical school. 


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