OSU-CHS earns No. 6 ranking for grads practicing in HPSAs

OSU-CHS earns No. 6 ranking for grads practicing in HPSAs

Thursday, July 25, 2024

Media Contact: Sara Plummer | Communications Coordinator | 918-561-1282 | [email protected]

Oklahoma State University Center For Health Sciences has once again been recognized by U.S. News & World Report for its commitment to meeting the health care needs of rural and underserved patients in Oklahoma.

OSU-CHS was ranked No. 6 in percentage of graduates practicing in Health Professional Shortage Areas.

HPSAs designate areas and population groups, both rural and urban, that are experiencing a shortage of health professionals and can also be called medical deserts. More than 44% of OSU-COM graduates are practicing in HPSAs, according to U.S. News data.

"Being recognized again nationally by U.S. News & World Report is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our graduates to serve those living in physician shortage areas, and proof that we are meeting the mission of OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine," said OSU-CHS President Johnny Stephens. "I'm so proud of our institution, our students and alumni, and our faculty and staff for their unwavering commitment to this mission - to meet the health care needs of rural and underserved communities."

OSU-CHS was also ranked No. 19 in medical schools whose graduates practice in rural areas.

According to the National Rural Health Association, the patient-to-primary care physician ratio in rural areas is 39.8 physicians per 100,000 people, compared to 53.3 physicians per 100,000 people in urban areas. This uneven distribution of physicians has had an impact on the health of those living in rural areas.

"Since our founding in 1972, OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine has prioritized educating and training doctors to serve and practice in rural Oklahoma where there's the greatest need," said Dr. Dennis Blankenship, dean of OSU-COM. "We believe in encouraging and empowering those living in rural and underserved areas who may have dreams of becoming a doctor or who have a passion for serving others. By recruiting future physicians from small towns and communities in Oklahoma, we increase the chance they return to their hometowns or a similar community to practice medicine where they are needed most."

The 2023-24 U.S. News & World Report rankings are from a survey of 196 accredited allopathic and osteopathic medical schools in the United States, which grant M.D. and D.O. degrees, respectively.

The Robert Graham Center, a division of the American Academy of Family Physicians,provided data and obtained the 2023 AMA Physician Professional Data from October 2023.Physician-level data from the 2023 AMA Physician Professional Data was used to construct the rural and HPSA rankings. This data includes each physician's practice location, specialty, medical school, graduation year and whether that physician practiced in direct patient care.

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