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Ģ����Ƶ University’s Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine continues to earn national praise for its commitment to improving health care access in underserved communities. In the 2025 U.S. News and World Report rankings, the college was ranked 21st in the nation and first in Ģ����Ƶ for the number of graduates practicing in rural areas.

The Heritage College is also ranked 39th nationally among medical schools with the most graduates practicing primary care. The college continues to be Ģ����Ƶ’s leading producer of primary care physicians.

“The Heritage College is deeply committed to addressing health care disparities, especially in rural Ģ����Ƶ, where the need is great,” said Heritage College Executive Dean Ken Johnson, D.O. “We recognize the critical importance of training physicians who are not only skilled but also passionate about serving in these communities. Our graduates play a vital role in expanding access to care and improving health outcomes in areas that have long been underserved. We take pride in equipping our students with the knowledge, compassion and purpose to make a lasting difference across rural Ģ����Ƶ and beyond.”

Across Ģ����Ƶ, rural communities continue to struggle with provider shortages, hospital closures and limited access to specialty care. In these areas, primary care physicians often serve as the first, and sometimes only, point of contact for patients. The Heritage College prepare its students for these critical roles, helping to close care gaps and improve health outcomes for thousands of Ģ����Ƶans.

Through innovative programs such as the Rural and Urban Scholars Pathways and the Rural Health Scholars Program, students gain valuable clinical experience and mentorship in underserved settings. These programs provide insight into the social, economic and structural factors that influence health, while also fostering a long-term commitment to serving high-need populations.

Students are also supported by the college’s Office of Rural and Underserved Programs, which prepares future physicians for patient-centered primary care. These efforts are complemented by a range of community health initiatives, allowing students to gain hands-on experience within rural communities across the state and especially here in Appalachian Ģ����Ƶ.

Recently, the college has also introduced REACH, or the Rural Experience in Appalachian Community Health program, which immerses students in community health in rural southeast Ģ����Ƶ for four weeks from upon completion of year one at Heritage College. This program emphasizes the connection between public health and medicine through engagement with local non-profit social support organizations and a family medicine clinical experience.

More than 1,000 students attend the Heritage College each year at its three campuses in Athens, Dublin, and Cleveland, with over half of graduates entering primary care residencies. The college maintains a strong focus on Ģ����Ƶ’s health care needs, aiming to enroll 95% of its students from within the state—a strategy that increases the likelihood graduates will remain in Ģ����Ƶ to practice and serve their communities.

To learn more about how the Heritage College is shaping the future of health care in Ģ����Ƶ and beyond, visit /health. For a full list of the latest U.S. News & World Report medical school rankings, visit .