Perelman School of Medicine
The Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania is America's first medical school. Founded in 1765 as the Medical Department of the College of Philadelphia, it's located in University City and trains physicians, scientists, and healthcare leaders through programs consistently ranked among the nation's best. The school combines its historical significance as the birthplace of American medical education with contemporary strength in research, clinical care, and teaching.[1] Affiliated hospitals and research facilities advance medical knowledge while providing clinical care to hundreds of thousands of patients.
History
In 1765, Dr. John Morgan and Dr. William Shippen Jr. did something unprecedented: they established the Medical Department of the College of Philadelphia, the colonies' first medical school. Benjamin Rush joined the faculty shortly after. As a signer of the Declaration of Independence and an influential physician, Rush shaped early American medical education through his teaching and writings, setting standards that would outlast his lifetime. The school produced generations of physicians who practiced throughout the growing nation, establishing patterns for medical education that influenced subsequent American medical schools.[1]
Over centuries of medical advancement, the school evolved significantly. Clinical training developed at Pennsylvania Hospital and later at Penn Medicine facilities, while research programs produced transformative discoveries and educational innovations that shaped medical training nationwide. The school's trajectory reflected broader changes in American medicine, from apprenticeship-based training to university-centered education grounded in science. In 2011, a naming gift from Raymond and Ruth Perelman provided resources supporting continued advancement while honoring the family's long connection to Penn Medicine.[1]
Academic Programs
The Perelman School offers MD, MD-PhD, and graduate programs. Medical students train through a curriculum integrating basic science, clinical experience, and emerging areas including healthcare policy, global health, and medical informatics. Students complete clinical rotations at Penn Medicine facilities throughout the Philadelphia region, gaining experience across specialties and settings before choosing their residency paths.[1]
Graduate programs in biomedical sciences train researchers whose work advances understanding of disease and treatment. That's where the MD-PhD program fits in: it produces physician-scientists who combine clinical care with research, addressing questions at the intersection of bench and bedside. These training programs benefit enormously from Penn Medicine's substantial research enterprise, with students working alongside faculty whose work shapes multiple fields.[1]
Research
Perelman faculty conduct research generating over $900 million in annual funding. This supports investigations from molecular biology to population health. Research strengths include cancer work through the Abramson Cancer Center, cardiovascular disease, neuroscience, immunology, and gene therapy. Penn researchers pioneered CAR-T cell therapy and other approaches that have produced multiple approved treatments and fundamentally advanced understanding of disease processes.[1]
The school's research enterprise integrates with clinical care through translational programs. These move discoveries from laboratory to patient in meaningful ways. Clinical trials enroll thousands of patients in studies evaluating new treatments, while research findings inform care throughout Penn Medicine's clinical network. This integration distinguishes academic medical centers from community hospitals while generating advances that eventually benefit patients everywhere.[1]
Clinical Enterprise
Penn Medicine operates hospitals and clinical facilities throughout the Philadelphia region. The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP), Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, and other facilities offer specialty and community care to hundreds of thousands of patients annually. Over 40,000 people work in the clinical enterprise, making Penn Medicine one of the region's largest employers while providing training sites for students and residents.[1]
Clinical excellence spans organ transplantation, neurosurgery, cancer care, and more, drawing patients from throughout the nation and world. Penn Medicine's integration of research, education, and clinical care creates an environment where patients benefit from latest advances while contributing to future discoveries. This academic medical center model produces both excellent care and knowledge that improves care worldwide.[1]
See Also
- University of Pennsylvania
- Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
- Benjamin Rush
- Penn Medicine
- Medical Education in Philadelphia