G R A D U AT E E D U C AT I O N
New MS degree in biomedical informatics
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he University of Chicago Graham School of Continuing Liberal and Professional Studies now offers a graduate degree in biomedical informatics — one of the world’s fastest-growing interdisciplinary fields. Faculty and programs in genomics research, translational medicine and computation have been brought together to establish the new master of science degree in biomedical informatics. David McClintock, MD, assistant professor of pathology and medical director of pathology informatics, and Samuel L. Volchenboum, MD, PhD, MS, associate
professor of pediatrics and director of the Center for Research Informatics, are the faculty directors. “The landscape of technology and health care is the driving force behind the biomedical informatics degree program,” Volchenboum said. “It’s becoming easier for clinicians, researchers and technicians to use powerful informatics tools to analyze data, yet it’s never been more important for health care professionals to understand those tools and methods.” The curriculum aims to provide students breadth in biomedical informatics training — from the basics of electronic health records systems to leading-edge medical research — and depth in their areas of interest. Upon completion, graduates will have a strong understanding of how biomedical information systems are created and
“ By going through this program, physicians, nurses and others in health care will be able to use and analyze data much more effectively — resulting in improved medical care.” Samuel L. Volchenboum, MD, PhD, MS
managed, and how they can use informatics to collect, manage, store and understand data critical to health outcomes. Volchenboum says biomedical informatics knowledge and practice will bring new opportunities to improve health care safety, quality and cost-effectiveness, as well as enable more rigorous and informed decision-making to drive innovation in care delivery. Learn more about the MS in biomedical informatics degree program at grahamschool.uchicago.edu.
G R A D U AT E S C H O O L R A N K I N G S
Pritkzer ranks high for research, funding and selectivity
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he University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine earned a No. 11 spot in the latest edition of U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Graduate Schools,” continuing its status as one of the country’s best training grounds for future physicians. Pritzker was the highest-ranked Illinois medical school for research, tying for 11th place with the University of Michigan and
New York University. Pritzker’s primary care program ranked No. 20 in the nation for 2017. Pritzker ranked third in the nation for the amount of National Institutes of Health research funding per faculty member ($260,200). Pritzker tied with Vanderbilt University as the country’s third-most selective medical school. PHOTO BY ANDREW NELLES
UChicago No. 1 in paleontology Other programs within the Biological Sciences Division had their 2015 U.S. News & World Report survey results re-published this year. • The PhD programs in the Biological Sciences Division were ranked 14th in the country. • The University of Chicago paleontology program, which draws from the interdepartmental and inter-institutional Committee on Evolutionary Biology, was rated first in the nation. • The ecology/evolutionary biology program tied for fourth with Stanford University. The rankings will be updated in two years.
The latest U.S. News & World Report survey places the Pritzker School of Medicine among the nation’s top medical schools for both research and primary care. uchospitals.edu/midway
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