Harvard University's medical school is considered the best in the nation. U.S. News and World Report and Web sites like studentdoc.com all consider Harvard to the nation's best medical school. U.S. News and World Report ranks schools according to a number of factors, one of the most important of which is academics. Determining academic quality is somewhat subjective, but U.S. News and World Report has attempted to make the process as scientific as possible by issuing surveys to important faculty members of medical schools around the country such as the deans of the schools, residency directors, and the like. Research activity was heavily weighted as part of the overall score as well. Harvard emerged as the top school when all factors were finally considered. Harvard Medical School boasted a budget of $544,158,873 for 2008 (figures for 2009 are not yet available). Founded in 1782, Harvard Medical School has emerged as the leading innovator of medical research in the world. The school has seven basic science departments, two in social science, and one clinical science department.
Harvard Medical School
25 Shattuck Street
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 432-1000
http://hms.harvard.edu/hms/home.asp
Second only to Harvard on most lists, Johns Hopkins University is just as rigorous in its academic standards. JHU has retained its position as a top-tier program for decades and has emerged as one of the premier medical institutions in the world. Many of its specialty programs have reached the status of top-ranked programs as well. In the area of ear, nose, and throat along with rheumatology and urology, JHU had the top programs in the nation. Ten of its other programs ranked either second or third.
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
733 N. Broadway, Suite G49
Baltimore, MD 21205-2196
(410) 955-3182
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/som/index.html
The University of Pennsylvania has also continued to rank highly as one of the best medical schools in the world. It too is considered one of the premier research institutions in the nation and the world. It is known for its far-reaching and broad medical research and it is also known for its interdisciplinary approach to the study and research of medicine. The school currently boasts 28 clinical and basic research departments along with 18 centers and institutes that focus on specific areas of medicine like cancer treatment. In addition to the M.D. degree, the school offers various joint degree programs that allow for the combining of the basic M.D. degree with a Ph.D. or master's level degree.
University of Pennsylvania Medical School
Suite 100 Stemmler Hall
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6056
(215) 898-8001
http://www.med.upenn.edu/