• A career in medicine remains one of the most noble professions in the world. As such, medicine is a competitive field. To raise the chances of success in the industry, students of medicine strive to gain entrance to the best medical schools. To help students choose, "U.S. News & World Report" releases annual rankings of medical schools in the two categories of research and primary care.
  
  

Harvard University---First in Research

• Established in 1636, Harvard University is the oldest institution for higher education in the U.S. The Harvard Medical School has operated continuously since its creation in 1782. The 2010 "U.S. News" study places this school at the No. 1 spot in terms of research, while it ranks 17th for primary care training out of the 146 programs in the survey. Harvard Medical School has produced 13 Nobel laureates. As of this writing, it has 11 departments and 49 other clinical departments in hospitals. Tuition and fees for the 2008-2009 academic year amounted to more than $42,000.
  
  Harvard University Medical School
  25 Shattuck Street
  Boston, 02115-6092
  617-432-1550
  hms.harvard.edu
  
  

University of Washington---First in Primary Care

• University of Washington Medicine first saw light in 1945 with the signing of the Medical-Dental Bill. According to the "U.S. News" survey, the school ranks first in primary care and sixth in research. It also boasts of four Nobel Prize winners as well as memberships, fellowships and honors in prestigious institutions like the National Academy of Science. In-state tuition amounted to almost $30,000 during school year 2008-2009, while out-of-state tuition reached $50,000. The school also takes part in a program called WWAMI (short for Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho). By allotting school seats to students of these participating states, the program encourages them to practice medicine in their hometowns, which often lack high-quality health care options.
  
  University of Washington School of Medicine
  PO Box 356340
  Seattle, 98195
  206-543-7212
  uwmedicine.org
  
  

University of California, San Francisco---Best of Both Worlds

• Originally Toland Medical College, the UCSF School of Medicine became part of the University of California in 1873. Of the top schools in the "U.S. News" 2010 rankings, UCSF is the only school of medicine to make it to the top five in both research and primary care. Out-of-state tuition for 2008-2009 was about $12,200. The faculty comprises three Nobel laureates and numerous honorees, members and fellows of esteemed medical organizations. "U.S. News" also ranks the school's specialty medical programs in AIDS medicine, women's health and internal medicine in the top three of surveyed programs.
  
  UCSF School of Medicine
  513 Parnassus Avenue, Room S224
  San Francisco 94143-0410
  415-476-4044
  medschool2.ucsf.edu