Thursday, July 25, 2024
Media Contact:
Sara Plummer | Communications Coordinator | 918-561-1282 | sara.plummer@okstate.edu
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.
“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.”
— Dr. Johnny Stephens, OSU Center for Health Sciences President
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.