Durham, N.C. -- Duke University School of Medicine has been named one of the top 10 schools of medicine in the 2010 issue of America’s Best Graduate Schools by U.S. News & World Report.

Duke tied for sixth place in research medical schools. It is the only school of medicine in North Carolina and the Southeast ranked in the top 10 for research medical schools.

In addition to the overall rankings, Duke placed among the top 10 schools in six of eight medical specialties. Duke's programs for AIDS, women's health, family medicine, and pediatrics all rose in this year's rankings compared to last year. Specialty rankings were determined solely on the feedback of medical school deans and senior faculty at peer schools.

Rankings for individual specialties follow:

• Geriatrics: #4
• Internal Medicine: #5
• AIDS: #5
• Women’s Health: #6
• Family Medicine: #8
• Pediatrics: #9

The magazine surveyed 126 medical schools fully accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education plus 20 schools of osteopathic medicine fully accredited by the American Osteopathic Association to form the rankings.

The top 10 schools of medicine according to U.S. News & World Report are, respectively: Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins University, University of California - San Francisco, Washington University in St. Louis, Duke University, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, University of Washington, Yale University, and Columbia University.

Additional information about rankings and selection criteria can be found in the online edition of U.S. News & World Report Best Medical Schools