Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine

Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine. It is the medical school of the University of Vermont and is located in Burlington, Vermont. Established in 1822, it is the seventh oldest medical school in the United States and a founding member of the Association of American Medical Colleges. The college was renamed in 2017 following a historic gift from alumnus Robert Larner.

History

The college was founded in 1822 by John Pomeroy and James Dean, making it a charter unit of the University of Vermont. It operated initially in conjunction with the University of Vermont Medical Center, then known as Mary Fletcher Hospital. The institution survived a major fire in 1829 and continued to grow, becoming a leader in medical education in New England. A pivotal moment came in 2017 when the university received a transformational gift from 1942 graduate Robert Larner, leading to its renaming in his honor. This period also saw significant leadership under deans like William H. Rorer and John N. Evans.

Academics and programs

The college offers the Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree through a curriculum that integrates basic sciences and clinical training from the first year. Key programs include the Vermont Integrated Curriculum and partnerships with the University of Vermont Medical Center for clinical clerkships. It also provides combined degree programs such as the M.D./Ph.D. via the Medical Scientist Training Program and M.D./Master of Public Health in collaboration with the University of Vermont College of Nursing and Health Sciences. Graduate medical education includes numerous ACGME-accredited residency and fellowship programs across specialties.

Research

Research enterprise is organized around several thematic centers and is significantly funded by the National Institutes of Health, placing it among the top public medical schools for NIH funding per investigator. Major research strengths include neuroscience, cardiovascular disease, and environmental health, with the latter leveraging Vermont's rural environment for population studies. The college is home to the Vermont Center for Immunology and Infectious Diseases and contributes substantially to the University of Vermont Cancer Center. Collaborative work often involves the University of Vermont College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences and the University of Vermont College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Facilities and centers

Primary facilities are concentrated on the University of Vermont campus, with the main instructional building being the Given Building. The Health Science Research Facility houses advanced laboratories for biomedical research. Major clinical and research partnerships are centered at the adjacent University of Vermont Medical Center. Other key facilities include the Vermont Biomedical Research Network and the Clinical Simulation Laboratory. The college also utilizes resources across the University of Vermont system, including the Proctor Maple Research Center for environmental studies.

Notable faculty and alumni

The college's faculty have included notable figures such as neurologist and author Oliver Sacks, who served as a visiting professor. Distinguished alumni span medicine, public health, and government, including former U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona and pioneering neurosurgeon Harvey Cushing. Other prominent graduates are John Dewey, the influential philosopher and educational reformer who briefly attended, and Paul A. Volcker, former chairman of the Federal Reserve. In recognition of their contributions, many alumni have received honors like the Albert Lasker Award and have held leadership roles in institutions like the American Medical Association and the Mayo Clinic.