The Keck School of Medicine of  USC is ranked 31st in research in U.S. News & World Report’s 2016 “Best Graduate Schools” rankings.

The ranking conveys national recognition as a leader in educating the doctors of tomorrow and advancing improvements in medicine.

“The Keck School’s national ranking underscores our commitment to being one of the best medical schools for research in the United States,” said Dean Carmen A. Puliafito, MD, MBA. “We’ve attracted a cadre of transformative clinician researchers who, in turn, attract the best young minds to our school. These students will have a profound effect on the future of health care.”

U.S. News surveyed 156 accredited medical and osteopathic schools for the 2015-16 ranking. Medical schools are ranked based on student selectivity admission statistics (MCAT, GPA and acceptance rate), faculty-to-student ratio and total enrollment numbers, as well as National Institutes of Health (NIH) research grants. Also ranked at 31st are Ohio State University and Oregon Health and Science University.

The Keck School of Medicine of USC is a leader in medical education with an integrated hands-on curriculum. The school is among the first medical schools to adopt Introduction to Clinical Medicine courses for first-year students to give them real-world experience in patient care from the start of medical school. The school is also home to Health, Technology and Education (HTE@USC), an innovative educational program developed in 2010 that facilitates cross-disciplinary education for medical and engineering students to work jointly on solutions to health care problems.

USC’s Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy and Mrs. T. H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy were ranked first in both physical therapy and occupational therapy. Both divisions are housed within the USC School of Dentistry.

The USC School of Pharmacy was ranked No. 10, along with the University of Arizona, University of Utah and University of Washington.

U.S. News’ graduate school rankings in physical therapy, occupational therapy and pharmacy are based solely on the results of peer assessment surveys sent to deans, other administrators and/or faculty at accredited degree programs or schools in each discipline.

— Leslie Ridgeway