For more than a decade, U.S. News and World Report has consistently ranked Oregon Health & Science University's education programs among the best in the nation. And this year is no different, according to the news magazine's America's Best Graduate Schools 2008 edition.

The news magazine ranks OHSU School of Medicine's primary care program fourth among the 128 medical schools participating in the survey. This is the 12th consecutive year OHSU's primary care program has ranked in the top 3 percent. Rankings are based on peer assessment surveys.

According to the news magazine, the medical school's rural medicine specialty ranks sixth; and its family medicine specialty ranks third, up two spots from last year. OHSU's family medicine specialty has ranked among the top five nationwide for 13 years in a row.

U.S. News and World Report also ranks medical schools based on overall research funding. The OHSU School of Medicine ranks 32nd, tied with Dartmouth Medical School.

In addition, the news magazine ranks nursing school education programs. The OHSU School of Nursing master's program ranks seventh among approximately 350 such programs in the United States. The master's program has earned top rankings since the magazine first began its surveys 16 years ago. The School of Nursing's nurse-midwifery program ranks No. 1 in the nation; its nurse practitioner gerontological/geriatric specialty ranks fifth; and its nurse practitioner family medicine specialty ties for 11th.

The magazine also ranks other health disciplines, including physician assistant master's and doctoral programs. OHSU's Physician Assistant Program ranks ninth, up from 10th in 2005.

The magazine does not rank dental schools; however, the clinical examination scores of OHSU School of Dentistry graduating dental students are consistently among the best in the nation.