IN THE NEWS
The University of Hawaiʻi John A. Burns School of Medicine remains one of the top primary care institutions as U.S. News & World Report placed JABSOM in the top tier of all medical schools in the nation in its 2024 "Best Medical Schools" rankings.
There were 15 schools placed in the elite Tier 1 category, marking the fifth time in seven years that JABSOM has made the top 25. Consistently landing in the top quartile of 130 ranked schools from 194 allopathic and osteopathic medical schools in the U.S. solidifies JABSOM's place as a premier destination for physicians to learn and train.
"Since JABSOM's foundation in 1965, we have worked very hard to train physicians who will meet the needs of Hawaiʻi. Our state needs doctors who practice in numerous different specialties, including the primary care specialties of family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, and geriatrics. The core values of primary care - including holistic, patient- and family-centered, and culturally humble approaches – are important components of our curriculum throughout our medical student's journey, and result in better care given by all physicians. We are proud that our efforts are producing more physicians interested in these specialties," said Dean Sam Shomaker.
More than half of JABSOM's class of 2024 entered Primary Care specialties this year. 16 of the 77 graduates entered Pediatrics, marking the highest number of pediatric residents coming from JABSOM in the last 15 years.
Maintaining its top tier status in the U.S. News and World Report increases JABSOMʻs visibility nationwide. Seen as one of the best places to train to become a physician, the continued visibility in the rankings leads to a more competitive applicant pool. More than 2200 applicants have been vying for 77 spots in recent years.
Attracting the best of the best means the physicians trained here are more inclined to serve the people of Hawaiʻi upon completing residency. The latest Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) data reflects that trend. More than half of JABSOM graduates are prepared to practice in underserved communities compared to the U.S. average of 40 percent. The quality of JABSOM clerkships is ranked in the top 10% in the nation.
Peer institutions and a few national primary care and research metrics determine medical schools' rankings.
On the research side, JABSOM has elevated to a Tier 2 ranking alongside Boston University, Tufts University, and USC's Keck School of Medicine. JABSOM's research funding continues to bring in millions of dollars from the National Institutes of Health, which significantly contributes to the overall health of Hawaiʻi. JABSOM expects to see the most growth in the last 5 years in fiscal year 2024, and there are indications that the trend will continue into next year. Twenty-one million dollars have been awarded in grants and contracts for research in 2024.
"The John A. Burns School of Medicine remains the leader of research in the Pacific. This is due to our faculty, staff, and student research endeavors. Eighty-one percent of our medical students are involved in research projects during medical school. JABSOM is focused on issues that impact our population and these awards allow us to make breakthroughs in diseases associated with health disparities, aging, reproductive biology, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and infectious diseases," said Dr. Mariana Gerschenson, Associate Dean for Research at JABSOM.
Of all colleges and research units at UH Mānoa, the JABSOM continues to be the second highest in awarded contracts and grants, currently totaling 58.3 million dollars.