Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard Medical School was established in 1782. Its mission is "to create and nurture a diverse community of the best people committed to leadership in alleviating human suffering caused by disease." Harvard Medical School is made up of 10 departments that include genetics, neurobiology, pathology and stem cell and regenerative biology, as well as six academic basic science departments and more than 50 basic and clinical research departments.
The Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, was founded in 1891 by Dr. Larry J. Shapiro. The Washington University School of Medicine pioneered bedside teaching. "U.S. News & World Report" ranks it in the top five medical schools in the nation. Its master's and doctorate degree programs are the largest of their kind in the country.
Johns Hopkins University first opened its doors in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1876. To this day, it remains a leader in both teaching and research and is ranked among the top two medical schools in the nation by "U.S. News & World Report." Women were admitted as medical students for the first time ever at Johns Hopkins University. The university's curriculum emphasizes scientific methods, laboratory research and advanced training in specialized fields.
The Duke University School of Medicine was established in 1930 in Durham, North Carolina. Today, it is one of the world's most recognized medical schools in medical education, clinical care and biomedical research. It has 90 buildings spread over 210 acres, and is where the world's first brain tumor program was established in 1937. The school is also home to the first physician assistant program, which began in 1965.