Department of Family Medicine and Community Health rises to top spot in 2023 Blue Ridge rankings; three other departments earn place in top 10
MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL (2/22/2024) — Several University of Minnesota Medical School departments earned a top position in the 2023 Blue Ridge rankings, an annual list based on grants awarded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Notably, the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health rose to the No. 1 spot among all family medicine programs in the U.S. — bringing in more than $23.5 million in NIH grants.
"This accomplishment is the result of an enormous team effort reflecting the work of faculty and staff in the Departments of Family Medicine and Community Health, Family Medicine and Biobehavioral Health, and now the Division of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science," said James Pacala, MD, MS, head of the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health. "Grant funding involves a tremendous amount of collaborative work - from the PI and all other investigators to the grants management team, the pre-award and finance teams and the research support team. All are indispensable to the research that results from it, and this success is a collective achievement. "
The Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research is a nonprofit organization that ranks U.S. medical schools by NIH grant awards each year. Because NIH data is publicly available and easy to validate, this metric is used as a strong indicator of the Medical School’s mission to provide clinical, research and educational excellence that ultimately positively impacts the people of Minnesota. These grants are critical outside resources the Medical School brings to Minnesota that support the research and discoveries that lead to healthier lives and better health care.
“Blue Ridge is one of the guideposts that measures how well we serve the public mission of our Medical School. Our commitment to pioneering research has transformed care and excellent outcomes for cancer, immunopathology, infectious disease, cardiovascular and neurological disease, addiction, and aging patients. We are particularly proud that our Family Medicine program leads the nation” said Peter Crawford, MD, PhD, vice dean for research at the U of M Medical School. “We are grateful to all the staff professionals, learners, and faculty who support our success. Our office is steadfast in its commitment to work with these leaders to identify strategies to ensure we continue to lead the nation and serve Minnesotans.”
Three other departments secured a place in the top 10 of their respective categories. The Department of Surgery ranked No. 4 with $20,604,572 in funding; the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics ranked No. 6 with $18,154,271 in funding; and the Department of Pediatrics ranked at No. 7 with $43,913,313.
Overall, the Medical School is ranked in the top 25 among all medical schools and top 10 among public institutions in NIH funding — reflecting stable and consistent growth year-over-year.
Learn more about NIH funded research from the U of M Medical School at med.umn.edu/blue-ridge-rankings.
###
About the University of Minnesota Medical School
The University of Minnesota Medical School is at the forefront of learning and discovery, transforming medical care and educating the next generation of physicians. Our graduates and faculty produce high-impact biomedical research and advance the practice of medicine. We acknowledge that the U of M Medical School is located on traditional, ancestral and contemporary lands of the Dakota and the Ojibwe, and scores of other Indigenous people, and we affirm our commitment to tribal communities and their sovereignty as we seek to improve and strengthen our relations with tribal nations. For more information about the U of M Medical School, please visit med.umn.edu.