Institutional ranking positions are determined by the sum of D-indexes (Discipline H-index) of all qualifying scholars affiliated with an institution whose principal publication area is Medicine. The D-index metric is discipline-specific, encapsulating only publications and citations within the designated field of Medicine.
Scope of Research and Scholar Selection Criteria
For this edition, a comprehensive review was conducted on 279,971 scientist profiles identified from multiple bibliometric sources, with a specific focus on 72,221 scientists whose research activities are predominantly in Medicine. To ensure the quality and impact of included scholars, a qualifying D-index threshold was set at 70, and the primary publication area for the majority of a scientist’s work had to be in Medicine. Notably, scientists’ awards and achievements in Medicine were also considered in the evaluation.
To further refine the focus on leading experts, the D-index threshold for top researchers is adjusted in increments of 10 according to the volume of scholars in each discipline. This dynamic threshold ensures that the top 1% of global scholars are represented in our list. Eligibility is further confirmed by requiring a proximity of 30% or less between a scientist’s general H-index and their D-index, ensuring subject-matter focus. Achievements and distinctions in the relevant field serve as additional qualification factors.
Verification Practices and Data Integrity
The Research.com team recognizes that raw bibliometric data, though robust, is not an absolute measure of scholarly impact. Accordingly, all scientist profiles underwent manual verification and were cross-referenced against publications listed in a broad spectrum of reliable sources. While the number of papers published in high-profile journals and conference proceedings is not directly factored into the ranked position, it remains a valuable secondary indicator of scholarly contribution.
Ranking positions are assigned based on each researcher's H-index, as compiled from OpenAlex and CrossRef—the most widely respected bibliometric databases available to the research community. For a comprehensive explanation of our rigorous approach, readers are encouraged to consult our methodology page.
The Research.com Mission
At Research.com, our overarching mission is to provide a reliable, transparent, and influential platform that motivates scientists, business leaders, and policymakers to explore trends in research excellence. By identifying and spotlighting the world’s top experts, we empower the entire academic community to understand who is leading innovation, both globally and institutionally, across all scientific disciplines.
Key Results of the 2024 Best Medicine Universities in Switzerland Ranking
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Top 3 institutions in Switzerland with the highest number of leading scientists:
- University of Zurich – 75 scientists
- University of Bern – 54 scientists
- University of Geneva – 39 scientists
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The most prominent scholars in Medicine globally represent:
- Harvard University
- Harvard Medical School
- Washington University in St. Louis
- McMaster University
- Johns Hopkins University
- University of Oxford
- University of Bristol
- University of Pennsylvania
- Yale University
- University of Cambridge
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Top 3 individual Medicine scholars worldwide:
- Professor Walter C. Willett, Harvard University – D-index: 411
- Ronald C. Kessler, Harvard University – D-index: 332
- Meir J. Stampfer, Harvard University – D-index: 330
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Aggregate metrics for top universities and scholars:
- Average total D-index of top 5% universities: 16,901
- Average total D-index for all 875 institutions: 1,798
- Average number of published articles in Medicine by top 5% scholars: 82,045
- Average number of published articles by all 875 universities: 9,438
- Average number of citations of researchers in top 1% universities: 17,279,971
- Average number of citations by all 875 universities: 279,971
This year’s results underline the outstanding contributions of Swiss institutions and scholars to the global medical research landscape, confirming the dedication of Switzerland’s universities to excellence in academic medicine.
