UB Medical School Major Contributor to Medical-School Faculties

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences received high marks from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) in its 1995 Institutional Goals Ranking Report, released late in December.

UB received its highest ranking -- 14th among the nation’s 125 U. S. medical schools -- in the category of percent of graduates who are on a medical-school faculty. UB was one of only two public universities in the top 15.

In the remaining categories, UB placed in the top fifth to the top half in all listings but one, and was first or second among the State University of New York's four medical centers in all listings but one.

John P. Naughton, M.D., UB vice president for clinical affairs and dean of the medical school, said he was very gratified by the results of the report.

“These rankings indicate we have been able to achieve a successful balance between academic excellence and clinical relevance,” he noted.

The AAMC report assessed the success of the nation’s medical schools in meeting five goals considered important in today’s medical climate: graduates entering primary-care specialties; graduates planning to practice in-state; graduates who are medical-school faculty; graduates who are underrepresented minorities, and total research grants and contracts.

Jordan J. Cohen, M.D., AAMC president, said the report is not intended to determine which medical school is “best,” but should be used by medical schools and the public to evaluate these institutions in selected categories.

“All medical schools share the broad and essential missions of education, research and patient care,” Cohen said. “However, within this context, individual schools have different priorities and goals. Because of this, a single ranking of medical schools is inappropriate and misleading. The Institutional Goals Ranking Report is designed to provide medical schools and the public with several scales by which they can mark an institution’s achievements in various areas.”

UB received its highest marks in the category of percent and number of 1981-90 graduates who are faculty, ranking 14th and 18th respectively. Among SUNY schools, UB ranked first in percentage and second in numbers.

Naughton said UB’s high ranking in this category reflects the emphasis the school’s faculty places on the importance of teaching and education in its basic-science and clinical-training programs.

“Our graduates learn that as faculty members, they can play an important role in guiding the future of students and residents, can influence the future of medicine and can enrich their personal and professional lives,” he said.

• Percent and number of underrepresented minority graduates during 1990-94 -- 27th and 23rd respectively; second in both listings among SUNY schools.

• Percent and number of graduates from 1989-91 entering primary-care specialties -- 45th and 23rd respectively; first among SUNY medical schools.

UB’s total graduates for the three years, at 437, is larger than that of 70 percent of U.S. medical schools, a factor which lowers its percentage ranking compared to schools with fewer graduates.

The rankings in this category do not reflect the success of the medical school’s Primary Care Initiative, begun in 1990, which has raised the percentage of UB graduates entering primary care from an average of 28 percent for 1989-91 to 40 percent for the class of 1995. (In the AAMC survey, schools with 40 percent of their 1989-91 graduates entering primary-care specialties ranked 5th.)

• Percent and number of 1995 graduates planning to practice in-state -- 58th and 42nd respectively; fourth among SUNY schools in percent; second in numbers.

• Federal research grants and contracts in 1993-94 -- 67th overall; second among SUNY schools.

Naughton noted that UB’s listing doesn’t include research funding administered by its affiliated cancer research center, the Roswell Park Cancer Institute. Research funds attributable to UB faculty working at Roswell Park totaled $21,771, 842. If these funds were included with those administered directly by SUNY, UB’s ranking would have been 36th instead of 67th.

Naughton said the report, prepared since 1990 but released to the public for the first time in 1995, is useful for gauging the medical school’s progress in important areas and for judging its performance in comparison to medical schools of similar size and scope.