"Estamos muy orgullosos de haber ascendido en nuestro ranking como una de las mejores escuelas de medicina para estudiantes Hispanos del país," dijo Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., vicepresidente senior de asuntos médicos y decano de la escuela Miller. "Es un honor que nuestro compromiso con la diversidad sea reconocido de esta manera. Nosotros trabajamos muy duro para asegurarnos de que nuestra población estudiantil refleje a la comunidad en la que cuidamos pacientes."

(Translation: "We are very proud to have increased our ranking as one of the nation's best medical schools for Hispanic students," said Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., senior vice president for medical affairs and dean of the Miller School. "It is an honor to have our commitment to diversity recognized in this way. We work hard to make sure our student body reflects the community in which we care for patients.")

The 2009 Best Schools for Hispanics report features top 10 lists in the fields of medicine, law, business, and engineering. The rankings are based on questionnaires filled out by the schools, reporting on enrollment, retention and graduation rates, faculty, and student services.

"As a Hispanic student, the opportunities available to me at the Miller School are more varied and wide ranging than any other medical school," said fourth-year student Eileen Bernal. "Being able to communicate directly with patients who only speak Spanish helps ensure that nothing gets lost in translation. It also helps me to develop a closer relationship with a patient who is often very grateful to finally be able to communicate with someone who speaks their preferred language."

Three medical schools in the University of Texas System rounded out the top five.

"We know through research that patients are more comfortable with a physician like them, and as the Hispanic population continues to grow, it is important to make sure Hispanic students are adequately represented," said Mark O'Connell, M.D., senior associate dean for medical education at the Miller School. "The Miller School has been at the forefront of recruiting a diverse student body and it is an accomplishment of which we are proud."