The Ventura County Medical Center’s residency program for family medicine was ranked No. 1 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report and the online physician network Doximity.

Evaluating the performance of 3,691 medical and surgical residency programs, U.S. News & World Report and Doximity filed through 50,000 peer nominations from board-certified U.S. physicians before ranking VCMC at the top. The medical center’s residency program – the state’s largest and oldest – has graduated more than 600 family physicians.

According to a press release from the medical center, the nationwide study marks the first time data on a national evaluation of residency programs has been made public.

David Araujo, director of the family medicine residency program, said the hospital was honored to receive the prestigious recognition.

“The news that Doximity and US News & World Report found Ventura County Medical Center to be the premiere residency program in the country is an enormous honor,” he said in a statement. “Having graduated from this program myself, I am well aware of the longstanding reputation of this institution. … There’s no question that each new crop of residents who come here are the best and brightest in the country.”

Each year, the residency program accepts 14 new residents. It plans to enroll one more student each year for the next three years.