Health Science Colleges at UI Health Recognized on 2017 U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate School Rankings
Friday, March 18, 2016
The University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System was well represented on the 2017 U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate School Rankings, with the UIC College of Pharmacy moving up to No. 6 and several health science programs receiving national recognition in the long-running guide.
The College of Pharmacy’s ranking is a jump from being No. 14 in the magazine’s list in 2014, the last time pharmacy schools were ranked.
“We feel that a rank of sixth is much more reflective of the world-class education that is available at the UIC College of Pharmacy,” said Jerry Bauman, PharmD, the school’s dean. “Between our impactful research programs, large array of innovative clinical practice experiences, and our amazing residency opportunities, there is really no other college that can match us.”
With campuses both in Chicago and Rockford, Illinois, the College of Pharmacy is able to offer specialty concentrations both in urban and rural pharmacy services, preparing pharmacists to serve the special needs of communities not just in Illinois but all across the U.S.
Two programs in the UIC College of Applied Health Sciences received Top 20 recognition. The Occupational Therapy (OT) program achieved the highest ranking within the UI Health system at No. 4, and the Physical Therapy (PT) program was listed at No. 15.
“We’re especially proud that our OT and PT programs are ranked No. 1 and No. 6, respectively, among public universities,” said Dr. Bo Fernhall, dean of the College of Applied Health. “That access to excellence is a key value proposition for UIC. We not only have some of the best programs in the country, but we make them [comparatively] affordable.”
Six specialty programs in the UIC College of Nursing also were recognized:
- Nursing-Midwifery — 10th
- Nurse Practitioner, Family — 7th
- Nurse Practitioner, Gerontology — 10th
- Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric — 12th
- Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric — 13th
- Nursing Administration — 8th
“These top-ranked programs, spanning the lifecycle from birth to adulthood, demonstrate the caliber and breadth of our faculty expertise and quality of our teaching,” says Dr. Terri Weaver, dean of the College of Nursing. “Our Nursing Administration program, which enables nurse leaders to navigate the challenges of healthcare delivery, has consistently been ranked in the Top 10 programs in the country.”
The U.S. News & World Report rankings are based on peer-based survey of deans, departments heads, and other academics at colleges across the country. The 2017 rankings further bolster UI Health’s reputation as one of the country’s top locations for educating and training future healthcare leaders.