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East Carolina University’s Brody School of Medicine has been recognized as a tier-one medical school in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings.

The school is one of only fifteen nationwide to receive this distinction for primary care practice and is the only medical school in North Carolina to achieve this status.

The recognition arrives as new students, such as Ryan Bonnett, prepare to start their medical education at Brody.

“The Brody School of Medicine has prepared doctors for decades who make a tangible impact in the community, and being part of that tradition is a big honor,” Bonnett said.

Brody School of Medicine was also highlighted for its emphasis on primary care in rural and federally designated health service shortage areas. The school consistently ranks highly for producing graduates who serve in these underserved communities.

ECU stated more than half of Brody’s graduates from 2015-2017 entered primary care residencies in specialties such as family medicine and pediatrics.

“More often than not, our graduates go into primary care and serve in communities that are in desperate need. We are incredibly proud of their commitment to service,” said Dr. Jason Higginson, Executive Dean of the Brody School of Medicine.

Students at the school’s annual Albernaz Golden Apple Distinguished Lecture expressed their enthusiasm for their forthcoming studies.

“I know that I’m in the right place and that this school is equipped in all areas to prepare me,” Bonnett said.

The U.S. News rankings considered various factors, including student selectivity and MCAT scores, and this year’s methodology introduced a tiered ranking system rather than an ordinal scale. Schools in tier one were deemed the highest-performing institutions.

Additionally, U.S. News released a separate report ranking medical schools based on research performance.