HIGH REPUTATION FOR UNIVERSITY OF UTAH HEALTH: BUILDS MUSCLE FOR THE STATE'S ECONOMY.

• Author: Sorensen, William

How does the high quality of health education and patient care at University of Utah Health benefit the state's economic strength? By putting the innovations born here in The Beehvie State on the national radar for research, reputation and rankings.

In health care, nothing matters more than patient trust, which is usually based on a provider's ability and a patient's satisfaction. The trust factor feeds into reputation, which is what patients and communities often rely on when making health care decisions. Reputation is a big factor in determining the health or the viability of a medical institution.

"Once again, the nation takes notice of University of Utah Health," said Mike Good, CEO, when the U.S. News rankings were released this spring. "Many of our medical and nursing programs now rank in the top 15 nationally when compared with other public institutions." The rankings include 120 public and private medical schools in the United States, but as Good points out, "Our School of Medicine is tied for #15 in research among public medical schools and is #14 among publics for primary care. The physician assistant program ranks #2 among public programs."

Updated rankings are released annually in mid-March, which adds to to the excitement surrounding "Match Day." That occurs when fourth-year medical students get "matched" in residency programs. Students, often accompanied by proud family and friends, rip open an envelope to find out where they will live and work while completing a residency--a multi-year, in-depth training within a specific branch of medicine. It's a day of jubilation that equals commencement, a few weeks later, when medical students get a diploma and formally take the title "Doctor."

Match Day is also significant for U of U Health because it serves as a measure of how well the institution is preparing providers to deliver high-quality health care. This year, 95.8% of fourth-year students matched on March 15. That's almost two full percentage points above the national average of 94%. The 120 graduates in the class of 2019 will enroll in 93 residency programs in 30 states and one province.

"We take pride in the fact that we can match our students anywhere in the country in great programs," says Adam Stevenson, MD, who serves as Associate Dean of Student Affairs for the School of Medicine. "Physicians out of our medical school have an enviable national reputation for serving as top-quality residents."

That reputation extends...