In their 2025 edition of Best Graduate Schools, U.S. News & World Report recognized the University of Louisville School of Medicine (ULSOM) for its lasting impact on communities that need it most. ULSOM ranked among the top schools in the country for graduates entering primary care (52^nd), practicing in rural areas (52^nd) and serving health professional shortage areas (57^th).

These rankings affirm ULSOM’s deeply rooted mission of training compassionate, skilled physicians committed to serving where the need is greatest.

“We’re not just educating physicians. We’re shaping a workforce that understands the needs of every community, from the largest cities to the most rural towns,” said Kelli Bullard Dunn, vice dean of community engagement. “Our programs are designed to instill not only clinical excellence, but also a deep-rooted commitment to service, particularly in areas that have faced physician shortages.”

INVESTING IN A HEALTHIER KENTUCKY

More than 85% of Kentucky’s counties are currently designated as full or partial health professional shortage areas. In some communities, one family medicine physician may care for more than 5,000 patients each year. ULSOM has taken bold steps to reverse this trend by expanding pathways into primary care and rural health careers – and by removing barriers for students who want to serve in these regions.

Programs like the Kentucky Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Network, supported by HRSA and KY CHFS grants, give students first-hand exposure to life and practice in rural communities. All third-year medical students participate in a four-week AHEC rotation, living and working in medically underserved communities and learning from a dedicated volunteer family medicine physician.

“These experiences inspire many of our students to pursue careers in primary care in rural or underserved regions,” explained Bullard Dunn. “Some students come to us with a vision of returning home to serve, but many discover this passion through the AHEC rotation. It’s a transformative experience.”

Additional funding from the HRSA Medical Student Education Training Program grant has enabled the creation of new programs such as a new summer primary care externship for first-year students and a new Distinction in Urban Primary Care track, as well as increased the Trover Rural Track class size and expanded primary care electives. This grant also helps defray some of the overwhelming cost of medical training for those entering primary care fields.

RURAL TRAINING, REAL IMPACT

ULSOM is not just preparing students to serve rural areas; it’s putting them there. The Trover Rural Track, located in Madisonville, Kentucky allows third- and fourth-year medical students to complete their clinical rotations in a rural environment. And it works: nearly 48% of Trover graduates go on to rural practice — a stark and impressive difference from the nation’s 2%.

“It’s not just big cities that need physicians; it is every town, every city, and every neighborhood,” reflected William Crump, associate dean of the Trover Campus. “Bringing medical students back to their roots and showing them the life-saving power they can have in their hometowns is a transformative experience that directs them right back to their rural roots to serve.”

The commitment extends beyond medical school. Residents also have the unique opportunity to complete their training serving rural regions in Kentucky through the Glasgow Family Medicine Residency Program and Owensboro Family Medicine Residency Program, where residents receive personalized instruction taking care of patients from rural communities. These physicians often become anchors in their communities, providing continuity of care and generating millions in economic impact.

“Family medicine physicians are saving lives in their own ways,” explained Brent Wright, associate dean for rural health innovation “Family medicine physicians are actively working with and educating patients to prevent strokes, heart attacks, and other major issues from happening in the first place. What would we do without them?”

A VISION FOR THE FUTURE

ULSOM’s approach is working, but the work is far from over. With a persistent shortage of physicians across most of Kentucky’s 120 counties, the need for thoughtful, mission-driven training has never been more urgent.

“Access to health care shouldn’t depend on your zip code,” said Bullard Dunn. “We are training the next generation of physicians to go where they’re needed the most: to return to their hometowns, or discover new ones, and make a real difference.”

ULSOM’s recognition by U.S. News & World Report is more than just a national ranking; it’s a reflection of a promise kept: to train physicians not just to be excellent, but to make a difference where it matters most.