University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry

University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. It is the graduate medical school of the University of Rochester and a core component of the University of Rochester Medical Center. Founded in 1920, the school is renowned for its innovative biopsychosocial model of medical education and its strong emphasis on translational research. It operates in close partnership with its primary teaching hospital, Strong Memorial Hospital, and is a major driver of biomedical innovation in the Finger Lakes region.

History

The school was established in 1920 following a major gift from George Eastman, founder of Eastman Kodak Company, and significant support from the Rockefeller Foundation. Its first dean was George Hoyt Whipple, a pathologist who would later receive the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1934 for his work on pernicious anemia. Under the leadership of Lorenz E. Zimmerman, the school developed the pioneering Double Helix Curriculum in the 1950s, integrating basic science and clinical training. A landmark achievement came in the 1970s when psychiatrist George L. Engel formally articulated the biopsychosocial model, fundamentally reshaping medical education here and globally. Subsequent expansions included the construction of the Arthur Kornberg Medical Research Building, named for the Nobel laureate and former chair of biochemistry.

Academics and programs

The school offers the Doctor of Medicine degree through a curriculum that emphasizes early clinical exposure and the integration of scientific principles. Key programs include the Medical Education Pathway, which allows for dedicated research time, and the innovative Leadership in Medical Education track. It also grants PhD degrees through the University of Rochester Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in fields like neuroscience, immunology, and pharmacology. Joint degree programs are available, such as the MD/PhD via the Medical Scientist Training Program and MD/MPH in collaboration with the University of Rochester School of Nursing and Dentistry. Graduate medical education is provided through over 70 residency and fellowship programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.

Research

Research is organized within the University of Rochester Medical Center, with particular strength in neuroscience, immunology, and optics. The David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology is a leader in infectious disease research. The Flaum Eye Institute, under directors like Steven E. Feldon, conducts groundbreaking work in ophthalmology and visual science. The school is also home to the Clinical and Translational Science Institute, funded by the National Institutes of Health. Notable scientific contributions include pioneering studies on cataract surgery by Harold Scheie and foundational research in cochlear implants by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. The Aab Institute of Biomedical Sciences consolidates cancer and biomedical engineering research.

Affiliations and facilities

The school's primary clinical affiliate is the university-owned Strong Memorial Hospital, a 886-bed academic medical center. It also serves as the teaching site for the adjacent Golisano Children's Hospital and the James P. Wilmot Cancer Institute. The campus includes the Kornberg Medical Research Building, the Sarah Flaum Atrium, and the School of Medicine and Dentistry Instructional Center. Key partners include the Rochester Regional Health system and the Canandaigua VA Medical Center, which provide additional clinical training sites. The school is integrated with the Eastman Institute for Oral Health and collaborates extensively with the University of Rochester School of Nursing.

Notable alumni and faculty

Nobel laureates associated with the school include George Hoyt Whipple, Arthur Kornberg, and visiting professor Albert Szent-Györgyi. Distinguished faculty have included neurobiologist Maiken Nedergaard, known for discovering the glymphatic system, and cardiologist Arthur Moss, who pioneered the MADIT clinical trials. Notable alumni include former National Institutes of Health director Story Musgrave, pediatric neurosurgeon Benjamin S. Carson, and former American Medical Association president John J. Ring. Other eminent figures are immunologist David H. Smith and pioneering ophthalmologist Harold Scheie.

Category:University of Rochester Category:Medical schools in New York (state) Category:Educational institutions established in 1920