Feinberg School of Medicine

Feinberg School of Medicine. It is the medical school of Northwestern University and is located on the university's Chicago campus in the Streeterville neighborhood. The school confers the Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree and oversees a broad spectrum of biomedical research and graduate programs. It is consistently ranked among the top medical schools in the United States for research and primary care by U.S. News & World Report.

History

The institution traces its origins to 1859 with the founding of the Chicago Medical College, which affiliated with Northwestern University in 1870. It was later renamed in honor of benefactor Joseph E. Feinberg. A pivotal moment in its history was the 1926 opening of the McGaw Medical Center, which established its core clinical partnership. The school's growth accelerated in the latter half of the 20th century, particularly with the 1979 opening of the Northwestern Memorial Hospital pavilion and the subsequent development of the surrounding Northwestern Medicine clinical network. This period also saw significant expansion in its National Institutes of Health funding and the establishment of numerous interdisciplinary research institutes.

Academics and programs

The school's primary curriculum leads to the Doctor of Medicine degree, featuring an integrated, patient-centered approach developed under initiatives like the Curriculum for the 21st Century. It also administers the Medical Scientist Training Program, an MD-PhD program funded by the National Institutes of Health. Graduate education includes numerous PhD programs through the Northwestern University Interdepartmental Neuroscience program and the Driskill Graduate Program in Life Sciences. Additional degrees offered include the Master of Public Health, Master of Science in various clinical fields, and joint degrees such as the MD-MBA with the Kellogg School of Management.

Research

Research enterprise is organized around major interdisciplinary centers, including the Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, the Center for Genetic Medicine, and the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, a designated National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center. Pioneering work has emerged in areas like nanomedicine, cardiovascular disease, neuroscience, and women's health. The school is a top recipient of grants from the National Institutes of Health, with research bolstered by core facilities in genomics, imaging, and translational science. Notable contributions include advancements in organ transplantation, cancer immunotherapy, and Alzheimer's disease research.

Affiliated hospitals and clinical facilities

The primary adult teaching hospital is Northwestern Memorial Hospital, consistently ranked among the nation's best by U.S. News & World Report. The principal pediatric affiliate is the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. The Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, a leader in physical medicine and rehabilitation, is also a key partner. The clinical network extends through the Northwestern Medicine system, which includes community hospitals such as Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital and Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital. These facilities provide the primary sites for student clerkships, residency programs, and faculty practice plans.

Notable faculty and alumni

The school's community includes Nobel Prize laureates such as Ferid Murad and Robert F. Furchgott. Distinguished current and former faculty include pioneering surgeon and former U.S. Surgeon General M. Joycelyn Elders, cardiologist Robert O. Bonow, and neurobiologist Peter Penzes. Notable alumni encompass a wide range of fields, from public health leaders like former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Julie Gerberding to influential figures in medicine such as C. Everett Koop and astronaut David Wolf. Many graduates have held leadership positions at major institutions including the American Medical Association and the National Academy of Medicine.

Category:Medical schools in Illinois Category:Northwestern University