College for Doctors: List of Medical Schools in the U.S.

There are many excellent medical schools throughout the United States.

While the best school for you will depend on what you want your specialty to be, below we've listed some of the best overall medical school programs in the United States.

All programs listed are accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). Programs are listed alphabetically.

1. Duke University

Duke University is a private research university in Durham, NC. Through its School of Medicine, it offers an MD program and PhDs in biomedical sciences.

The school's Patient FIRST curriculum teaches students the core values of humanism, professionalism, diversity and inclusion, and lifelong learning.

The four-year curriculum breaks down like so:

• one year of basic science that integrates core biomedical content in the context of patient care
• a year of clinical rotations in departments like neurology, radiology, psychology, OB/GYN, pediatrics, anesthesia, and surgery
• a year dedicated to 10 to 12 months of in-depth scholarly study in an area of particular interest
• the final year, made up of multiple four-week clinical electives and a capstone project

The program's unique third year allows students to choose from 18 different study programs designed to provide in-depth exposure to the medical sciences.

2. Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins University is a private research university in Baltimore, MD. It's well known for its affiliated teaching and research hospital.

The MD program at the School of Medicine utilizes a unique Genes to Society curriculum that begins with a grounding in information learned from the Human Genome Project.

The program integrates three core themes throughout the program:

• biological mechanisms: scientific aspects like genetics and genomics, pharmacology and therapeutics, food and nutrition, neoplasia, and aging
• culture of medicine: social themes like ethics, professionalism, structural competency, and health inequities
• health systems science: clinical aspects like health policy, biomedical informatics, and patient safety

Students can also choose to personalize their program by choosing a track in primary care leadership or global health leadership.

The School of Medicine offers combined and dual degree programs and elective rotations as well.

3. Mayo Clinic

The Mayo Clinic is one of the premier academic medical institutions in the world, and for over 50 years it's been training physicians at its Alix School of Medicine.

The MD program is broken into three phases:

• pre-clerkship: 18 months of study that covers the foundational basic sciences and pathophysiology
• clerkship: in which you apply the knowledge you've learned to care for patients in eight different clinical settings
• post-clerkship: made up of a sub-internship, social medicine rotation, clinical rotations, transition to residency program, and internship boot camp

Students also have the option to specialize their education with academic enrichment opportunities. These include:

• career training fellowships
• certificate programs in a specific thematic discipline or field of study
• distinction tracks for specialized concentration within a medical discipline
• dual degree opportunities
• global health study and travel opportunities
• professional development programs
• research opportunities
• selectives to customize your learning experience

The Alix School of Medicine is based in Rochester, MN, but also has campuses in Phoenix, AZ, and Jacksonville, FL.

4. New York University

New York University is a private university in New York City. Through its Grossman School of Medicine, it offers MD degrees as well as PhDs in biomedical sciences.

The MD curriculum is called the Curriculum for the 21st Century. It's made up of four phases:

• pre-clerkship curriculum: 11 months of study in the foundations of medicine and foundational clinical skills
• clerkship year: one year of clinical training at a variety of clinical sites, including elective rotations
• individualized exploration: a year of individualized exploration in specialty and subspecialty areas of your choice
• career preparation: 11 months focused on career preparation activities like required rotations, residency interviews, and a transition to residency course

Students can also choose more non-traditional programs of study, such as an accelerated three-year MD program, MD/PhD dual degrees, or MD/master's dual degrees.

5. University of California, San Francisco

The University of California in San Francisco is a public university less than three miles from the Pacific Ocean. It offers MD degrees through its UCFS School of Medicine.

They've named their MD curriculum the Bridges Curriculum. It covers seven core competencies:

• patient care
• medical knowledge
• practice-based learning and improvement
• interpersonal and communication skills
• professionalism
• systems-based practice
• interprofessional collaboration

The four-year program has three phases:

• Foundations 1: students gain foundational knowledge in basic and clinical sciences
• Foundations 2: students advance their patient care and systems improvement skills through immersive, team-based clinical settings
• Career Launch: an individualized phase where students choose their own clinical experiences and a scholarly project that aligns with their career goals