Best Medical School Ranking

David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA places highly in national ranking

The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA is tied for #6 in research and #11 in primary care in a widely watched ranking released yearly in March.

Results of the annual U.S. News and World Report survey of medical schools highlighted the UCLA medical school’s position among the nation’s best.

“Our medical school is committed to training physicians who collaborate to provide compassionate and effective care and scientists who are diligent in pursuit of research that aids the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of illness.”
- Dr. Kelsey Martin, Dean of the David Geffen School of Medicine

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Kelsey Martin, MD, PhD

“We are proud of our position among the nation’s leading medical schools and we are grateful for the skill and commitment of so many – the physicians, research scientists, medical students, trainees, staff and our community partners who dedicate themselves to patients, medical education, discovery and public service,” said Kelsey Martin, MD, PhD, dean of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. "Another reason for our medical school’s excellence is the focus on continuous improvement. Regardless of the performance on individual rankings, always striving to do better in all areas of our joint endeavor is part of our DNA.”

Medical school faculty and trainees provide patient care at UCLA Health hospitals in Westwood and Santa Monica and in clinics throughout Southern California. Medical students receive training at these medical centers, at partner hospitals and with community groups in the region.

Patients benefit from the alignment between UCLA’s clinical and research programs, said John Mazziotta, MD, PhD, vice chancellor of UCLA Health Sciences and CEO of UCLA Health.

“UCLA Health’s medical education programs, hospitals and clinics are united in a shared goal – providing the best possible health care to patients from Los Angeles and around the world, informed by the latest research and utilizing modern technology,” Dr. Mazziotta said.

Data used to calculate the medical school rankings include, among other factors, a reputation survey of medical school leaders across the country, applicant admission rates, student scores on the Medical College Admission Test and faculty-to-student ratios.

The research category also considered the value of grants received from the National Institutes of Health and other research funders. The primary care category also considered the proportion of graduates entering primary care specialties.