Perelman School of Medicine

Perelman School of Medicine. It is the medical school of the University of Pennsylvania, a private Ivy League research university. Founded in 1765, it holds the distinction of being the nation's first medical school and a pioneer in American medical education. The school is consistently ranked among the top medical schools and biomedical research institutions in the United States.

History

The school was founded in 1765 by John Morgan, who modeled its curriculum after the system at the University of Edinburgh. Its establishment marked a pivotal shift from the apprenticeship model to formal university-based medical education in the Thirteen Colonies. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, it was a leader in numerous medical advancements, including the founding of the nation's first university teaching hospital and the first children's hospital. A landmark $225 million gift from Raymond Perelman and Ruth Perelman in 2011 led to the renaming from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine to its current name.

Academics and research

The school grants the Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree and offers numerous combined degree programs, such as the M.D.-Ph.D. through the Medical Scientist Training Program. Its curriculum emphasizes early clinical exposure and integrates foundational science with patient care. Research is a cornerstone, with the institution consistently receiving among the highest levels of National Institutes of Health funding. Pioneering work has emerged from its departments, including the development of CAR T-cell therapy for cancer at the Abramson Cancer Center and foundational research on vaccines for rotavirus and human papillomavirus.

Affiliated hospitals and clinical facilities

The primary clinical partner is the University of Pennsylvania Health System, a major academic medical center. Its flagship hospital is the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, a nationally ranked facility located on the same campus. Other key affiliates include the Pennsylvania Hospital, the nation's first hospital founded in 1751, and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, consistently ranked as one of the top pediatric hospitals. The system also includes community hospitals, specialty care pavilions, and a vast network of outpatient practices throughout the Philadelphia region and southern New Jersey.

Notable faculty and alumni

The institution's history is marked by influential figures, including founding father Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and professor of chemistry. Nobel laureates associated with the school include Michael Stuart Brown and Stanley B. Prusiner. Renowned alumni span medicine and public life, such as surgeon and former U.S. Surgeon General Antonia Novello, and Jonathan Epstein, a leading cardiovascular researcher. Other distinguished faculty have included pioneers like William Osler, a founder of Johns Hopkins Hospital, and Virginia Apgar, creator of the Apgar Score.

Campus and facilities

The school is situated on the University City campus of the University of Pennsylvania in West Philadelphia. Its core biomedical research and education facilities are concentrated in buildings like the Smilow Center for Translational Research and the Biomedical Research Building. The campus is integrated with the clinical facilities of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, creating a contiguous academic medical center. Additional state-of-the-art facilities include the Roberts Proton Therapy Center and the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, an outpatient care pavilion.