The Center for Accountability in Medicine (CAM), a watchdog group called Do No Harm, has published its second annual Medical School Excellence Index. The index evaluates U.S. medical schools based on academic merit, transparency and a clear stance against diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies, rather than identity‑based criteria.
Why the index matters
CAM director Ian Kingsbury told The Center Square that the ranking is intended to give prospective students and patients reliable information about which schools are best preparing the next generation of physicians. He said the tool helps restore “excellence to medical education” by highlighting institutions that focus on rigorous academic standards.
Top‑ranked schools
According to the 2026 Index, the five highest‑rated schools are:
- USF Health Morsani College of Medicine
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
- Dell Medical School – University of Texas at Austin
- Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Both USF Health Morsani and the Perelman School of Medicine were also in the top five of last year’s list.
Schools at the bottom
The index placed the following institutions in the bottom five:
- Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
- Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science College of Medicine
- California University of Science and Medicine – School of Medicine
- University of California, Riverside School of Medicine
- Roseman University College of Medicine
Do No Harm attributes the low rankings to declines in GPA and MCAT scores and the recent addition of DEI offices, which the group says have shifted focus away from academic rigor.
Context and reaction
The rankings contrast sharply with traditional lists that reward schools for DEI initiatives. Do No Harm argues that emphasizing identity‑based policies can dilute the quality of medical training. None of the ten schools listed responded to The Center Square for comment.
In its first year, the index reported that 18% of U.S. medical schools received an “F” grade for failing to meet the merit‑based criteria. CAM hopes the rankings will encourage institutions to prioritize academic standards and transparency over DEI‑driven mandates.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
