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Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine once again in top 10 U.S. News & World Report ‘Best Medical School’ rankings
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ROCHESTER, Minn. — U.S. News & World Report released its 2020 “Best Graduate Schools” rankings on Tuesday, March 12. Featured in the “Top 10 Best Medical Schools” once again is Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine.
The school is ranked No. 9 in the national rankings, coming in at a three-way tie with Cornell University and New York University medical schools. This is a slight dip from last year when Mayo Clinic’s school was ranked No. 6. However, changes in the 2020 methodology affected the scores for many medical schools. Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine's score was only four points away from the No. 4 school, showcasing the competitive and complex nature of the scoring system.
Fredric Meyer, M.D., Waugh Executive Dean for Education, Mayo Clinic, says these rankings can be a bit of a roller coaster and notes that school leaders anticipated a possible minor drop in rankings when they became aware that U.S. News & World Report once again was changing its ranking methodologies. Dr. Meyer is also dean of Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine.
“To be included as one of the top schools in the country is a real testament to the tremendous educational efforts of our faculty, students and staff,” says Dr. Meyer. “It also recognizes the strong bonds between practice, research and education at Mayo Clinic and how we work together to develop the workforce of the future.”
Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine received a $200 million gift in November 2018 from Jay Alix, a grateful patient, philanthropist and successful business consultant. This gift, the largest donation in Mayo Clinic history, will support innovative curricular solutions, including accelerated learning program tracks, dual degree programs, new programs in transformative sciences, and pioneering approaches to teaching with advanced technologies. And in keeping with Mayo Clinic's commitment to increasing access to the medical profession for prospective highly-qualified candidates regardless of their economic backgrounds, the gift also will support scholarships.
In honor of the benefactor, Mayo Clinic School of Medicine changed its name to Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine. The U.S. News & World Report No. 9 ranking in 2020 “Best Medical Schools” gives further credence to Mr. Alix's support of Mayo Clinic and its long history of educating future physicians imbued with Mayo’s patient-centered values.
The school has ranked high in research for several years, and many physician-scientists can attest to the groundbreaking biomedical advances being made in Mayo Clinic labs at each Mayo site. Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine students participate in research and hands-on scientific training experiences during their tenure at Mayo as an integral part of their curriculum. More than 80 percent of Mayo's M.D. students graduate with a research manuscript published in a peer-reviewed journal. This is more than twice the national average. It’s part of the culture at Mayo Clinic — one that encourages students to collaborate with senior researchers and staff to gain insight and experience, so they continue on their quest for knowledge and biomedical discoveries long into their medical careers.
Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine began in 1972 on Mayo Clinic's Rochester campus. The school continues to grow with the opening of a second campus in Arizona and an inaugural class of 50 students in 2017. The school expanded again in 2018 — this time to Mayo Clinic's Florida campus. This latest national expansion enables students to train the first two years in Arizona or Rochester, with an additional option of completing the final two years in Florida. As a national medical school with three campuses, Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine enables students to train at No. 1 hospitals in the country under a shared medical curriculum and shared Mayo values.
Dr. Meyer notes that students often consider “Best Medical School” rankings in their deliberations about where to apply and attend medical school. He describes that, from a school perspective, the rankings are seen as one of several indicators used to evaluate the stature of the medical education program. Others include student recruitment, involvement in research, success matching to residency programs and above-average achievement on national clinical knowledge exams.
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About Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine
Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine is a national medical school with four-year medical degree programs in Rochester and Arizona. The school also offers a two-plus-two program option, enabling students to complete their first two years of medical studies in Arizona or Minnesota, and their final two years of learning in Florida. For more information, visit Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine.
About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to clinical practice, education and research, providing expert, comprehensive care to everyone who needs healing. Learn more about Mayo Clinic. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network.
Media contact:
- Deb Anderson, Mayo Clinic Public Affairs, 507-284-5005, newsbureau@mayo.edu
