The University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med) 2021 State of the School is now available at med.unr.edu/StateOfTheSchool.

UNR Med Acting Dean, Melissa Piasecki, M.D., delivers a video message that highlights the School of Medicine achievements, innovations and faculty accomplishments over the past year and a look ahead, which includes a national search for a new dean.  She introduces faculty, staff and learners who are among the many people at UNR Med  advancing the school’s mission of improving the health and well-being of all Nevadans and their communities through excellence in medical education, research, diversity, equity and inclusion, and clinical care through UNR Med’s affiliation with Renown Health. Additionally, the School of Medicine’s COVID-19 state and community response and outreach are featured.

Among the achievements that Piasecki reports include UNR Med ranking No. 30 in the United States from nearly 200 medical schools for graduates practicing in primary care, and No. 26 for diversity, with 22% of medical student enrollment from under-represented groups in the 2022 U.S. News & World Report’s list of best medical schools. UNR Med earned a top 25 spot in ranking of total federal research grants with $186,000 in grant funding per full-time faculty member which supports the high level of research funding that UNR Med basic science researchers achieve annually – a level that is often seen at larger, medical schools.

“These rankings are meaningful. They reflect our dedication to our institutional missions – excellence in education, research and clinical care in a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion and aligns so well with the University of Nevada, Reno’s goals to build on our University’s Carnegie R1 research classification and set our sights on membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities,” says Piasecki.

Piasecki also calls the affiliation between UNR Med and Renown Health a major achievement as it established Nevada's first integrated health system to advance health and health care through medical education, clinical research and patient care for the community and state.

“The affiliation will result in opportunities to develop our health care workforce, to recruit new providers to our area, expand specialty care for our community, and expand access to clinical research trials,” says Piasecki. In addition to serving as acting dean of the School of Medicine, Piasecki serves as chief academic officer for Renown Health, overseeing their clinical research and medical education functions.

Looking ahead to the future, Piasecki notes that UNR Med has significant developments underway, including the national recruitment of a permanent dean, recruiting new physician faculty, growing UNR Med’s affiliation with Renown Health, implementing a strategic plan for clinical research, exploring plans to expand the Nevada State Public Health Lab and preparing for growth in basic science.

For more on UNR Med’s 2021 State of the School, a sampling of many School of Medicine stories that made headlines during the 2020-2021 academic year, factoids and the many people behind UNR Med’s achievements and innovations, visit the State of the School webpage.