Dear HMS and HSDM community members:
After careful consideration and consultation with colleagues and stakeholders both inside and outside of Harvard Medical School, we are announcing today that HMS will not be submitting any data. US News & World Report (USNWR) to support research and ranking of “Best Medical Schools”.
Education leaders have long methodology used by USNWR Evaluate and rank medical schools (see references below). However, my concerns and the perspectives I have heard from others are more philosophical than methodological, and the rankings meaningfully reflect a high aspiration for educational excellence, graduate readiness, and compassionate and equitable patient care. It is based on the principled belief that it cannot be reflected in our medical education programs.
As an unintended consequence, rankings create perverse motivations for institutions. Report misleading or inaccurate dataset policies for increasing rankings rather than for noble purposes, or divert financial aid From students with financial need to high-scoring students with the means to maximize ranking criteria. Ultimately, the suitability of a particular medical school for a particular student, regardless of methodology, is too complex, nuanced, and individualized to be offered in a rigid ranked list.
I have pondered this decision since I became Dean six years ago. Because of the courageous and bold actions of my esteemed colleague Dean John Manning of Harvard Law School and other Law Schools Dean John Manning, I have been asked to act on behalf of Harvard Medical School. I was forced. As a dean, graduate, and faculty member, what matters most to me is not the number one ranking, but the quality and richness of the educational experience offered at Harvard Medical School that promotes personal growth and lifelong learning.
I recognize that prospective students have a legitimate interest in evaluating the qualities of our school. I also value transparency and accountability. Therefore, HMS will continue to publish important information. Admission websiteComparable details about all US medical schools, including: HMSin unweighted raw form, Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR) Report for Applicants and Advisors, part of the website of the Association of American Medical Colleges. We believe these resources will help students make thoughtful and meaningful decisions about which medical school is best for them.
Sincerely,
George Q Daly
Dean of Medicine
Harvard University
for reference:
America’s Best Medical Schools: A Criticism US News & World Report Ranking
America’s Best Medical Schools: A New Criticism US News & World Report Ranking
