Recent results published in U.S. News and World Report demonstrate that East Carolina Universitys graduate programs, especially in medical fields, are among the best in the nation.

ECUs Brody School of Medicine ranks 25th in the nation in preparing physicians for primary care. For perspective, UNC-Chapel Hill ranked second and Duke University ranked 29th in the same category.

Just as important, if not more so, is the fact nearly 60 percent of Brody graduates remain in primary care five years after graduation the highest in the state. Nearly one in five of Brodys 2,198 graduates practice in Eastern North Carolina. These figures show ECUs medical school is fulfilling its primary mission of improving health care in or in part of the state.

The rehabilitation counseling program in the College of Allied Health Sciences Department of Addictions and Rehabilitation Studies is ranked 18th among such programs by U.S. News. ECU offers a masters degree in rehabilitation and career counseling and substance abuse and clinical counseling.

Students also can pursue certificates in rehabilitation counseling, substance abuse counseling, vocational evaluation and military and trauma counseling. The doctoral program in rehabilitation counseling and administration allows students to specialize in substance and clinical counseling, vocational evaluation or rehabilitation research.

The ECU College of Nursing also made a strong showing, ranking 83rd among the nations best graduate nursing programs and 18th among online graduate nursing programs. ECUs College of Nursing graduates more nursing students than any school of nursing in North Carolina.

The masters of science in nursing program prepares students for advanced roles as clinical nurse specialists, neonatal nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, nurse educators and nurse administrators.

Adult-gerontology nurse practitioner and family nurse practitioner options have transitioned to the doctoral of nursing degree program. The Doctor of Nursing Practice and the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing are the terminal degree programs offered at ECU.

U.S. News graduate school rankings for 2016 also listed ECUs physician assistant studies program at 70th.

Founded on March 8, 1907, East Carolina began as East Carolina Teacher Training School (ECTTS), a normal school to prepare teachers. Classes began on Oct. 5, 1909, on the 43-acre campus. In 1920, the school became East Carolina Teachers College ECTC. In 1951, the school was renamed East Carolina College. In 1968, the school became a full-fledged university.

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Mike Parker: East Carolina programs ranked among nations best