How will you spend your Thanksgiving break?
If you get your medical treatment at a teaching hospital, NYU's among the best to go to — at least according to one report.
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The NYU Langone Medical Center earned an "honor roll" position on the U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Hospitals" list, which was released in July.
Of the 4,861 teaching hospitals that were evaluated, just 21 made the honor roll. Of those 21 hospitals, Langone ranked 17th (tying with Yale-New Haven Hospital).
Additionally, the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine at NYU Langone ranked No. 1 in the state for rehabilitation medicine.
Every year, U.S. News ranks teaching hospitals across the country based on reputation in the medical industry, mortality rates, patient safety and other care-related factors. Hospitals are ranked on 16 specialties, such as heart surgery and psychiatry.
When ranked highly in six or more of their specialty programs, hospitals make the honor roll.
Andrew Litt, vice dean and executive vice president of NYU Langone, said he thinks pinpointing the center's success is difficult.
"I think these things kind of work like building blocks," Litt said. "I think we've had incredible research outcomes that people know about. We've recruited some incredible people here. It's a whole bunch of little things."
To maintain its rank, the center plans to follow dean Robert Grossman's vision of establishing Langone as a world-class institution. Litt said Langone strives to be one of the top facilities that people consider for health care, research and education.
"We're happy to be recognized for the success that we've seen, but we're very cognizant of the fact that we have a lot of work to do to make this a better place," Litt said.
He also said that while he does not view rankings as a priority for the center, he values the recognition for the center's work.
"We care a lot more about the fact that fewer patients have infections in the hospital than they did two years ago, or more patients are having better outcomes from surgery," he said. "That's more important, really, but everyone appreciates a pat on the back."
Fares Samra, a School of Medicine student, thinks NYU's name stands for itself — with or without the ranking.
"I think there is culture that is engrained in our generation, that rankings are all that matters, but that doesn't apply to medical schools," Samra said.
Because he thinks NYU Langone is already a big name, Samra does not think its higher ranking will impact his professional career.
"I'm not treated any differently now because we were ranked a little higher. But I would imagine it gives most of my classmates and colleagues of this medical center a little more pride and gives them something to be happy about," Samra said.
