U.S. News and World Report named the Wayne State University School of Medicine a Top 100 medical school for research in its annual Best Medical Schools rankings.

The magazine ranked the School of Medicine 66th in research of the 188 medical schools eligible for ranking. Last year the school ranked 71st in the category.

The school also was ranked 89th in the category of Primary Care.

Known for urban clinical excellence focusing on medical and biomedical education, hands-on clinical experience, research and community care, the WSU School of Medicine also received top performing recognition for its ranking in Diversity and Medical Schools With the Most Graduates Practicing in Health Professional Shortage Areas.

This is the first year that the magazine published a ranking of the most diverse medical schools. The Howard University College of Medicine in the District of Columbia took first place in the new ranking, which considers the proportion of students who are Black or African American, Hispanic/Latinx, American Indian or Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander.

The WSU School of Medicine ranked 26th among Most Diverse medical schools and 51st in Medical Schools With the Most Graduates Practicing in Health Professional Shortage Areas.

“We should all be proud of our markedly increased ranking by U.S. News & World Report,” said Mark E. Schweitzer, M.D., dean of the School of Medicine and vice president of Health Affairs for WSU. “We have an outstanding research-focused, diverse medical school with a 153-year mission of serving those in need. It’s encouraging to see that more people are beginning to acknowledge us. Thank you to all our faculty who made this possible.”

Each year, U.S. News & World Report issues its Best Medical Schools report and rankings based on a number of indicators, including quality assessment, peer assessment scores, residency director scores, research activity, primary care rate, faculty-student ratio, number of graduates entering specialty fields, and ratings by medical school deans and senior faculty.