By Duke Medicine News and Communications

DURHAM, N.C. -- Duke University School of Medicine is again among the top medical schools as ranked by U.S. News and World Report. For the seventh consecutive year, Duke has been ranked among the top six research medical schools. In the April 11, 2005, edition of the magazine, Duke is ranked sixth.

For primary care, Duke's medical school jumped from 39th to 6th place.

The top 20 research medical schools this year are:

1. Harvard University

2. Johns Hopkins University

3. Washington University, St. Louis

4. University of Pennsylvania

5. University of California -- San Francisco

6. Duke University

7. University of Washington

8. Stanford University

9. University of Michigan -- Ann Arbor

10. Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons

11. University of California -- Los Angeles and Yale University (tied for 11th)

13. Baylor College of Medicine

14. Cornell University and University of California -- San Diego (tied for 14th)

16. University of Pittsburgh

17. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center -- Dallas and Vanderbilt University (tied for 17th)

19. University of Chicago

20. Case Western Reserve University, Emory University and Northwestern University (tied for 20th)

The medical school directory lists the 124 medical schools fully accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, as well as the 19 schools of osteopathic medicine accredited by the American Osteopathic Association. The survey was conducted in the fall of 2004.