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University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry

Coordinates: 43°07′24″N 77°37′37″W / 43.1232°N 77.6269°W / 43.1232; -77.6269
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
Motto
Meliora
Motto in English
"Ever better"
TypePrivate medical school
Established1925
Parent institution
University of Rochester
AffiliationUniversity of Rochester Medical Center, Strong Memorial Hospital, Eastman Institute for Oral Health
DeanDavid C. Linehan
Students1,981 [1] (approx. 400 medical students, 750 graduate/post-doctoral, and 775 residents/fellows)
Location, ,
United States

43°07′24″N 77°37′37″W / 43.1232°N 77.6269°W / 43.1232; -77.6269
Websitewww.urmc.rochester.edu/smd/
Map

The School of Medicine and Dentistry (SMD) is an accredited medical school and school for advanced dental education,[2] with graduate education programs in biomedical, biological and health sciences. The facilities of the school are located in the URMC complex and the adjoining Arthur Kornberg Medical Research Building with research facilities. Dental education and patient facilities are located within the URMC complex and the Eastman Institute for Oral Health.

History

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Nobel Laureate George Hoyt Whipple, M.D., became the first Dean of the Medical School in 1921, bringing Abraham Flexner’s innovative model to life. Backed by George Eastman's philanthropy, Whipple oversaw the creation of a unified medical school and hospital that combined basic science with clinical practice. [3] The medical school opened in 1925, and its first class graduated in 1929.[4]

In May 2023, the medical school's Orthopedics Department opened the new UR Medicine Orthopaedics and Physical Performance Center Facility. The 330,000-square-foot comprehensive center was constructed as part of a $227 million project. [5]

With a planned 2027 inauguration, a $650 million project on the site of the URMC's Strong Memorial Hospital campus is expected to modernize and triple the capacity of the Emergency Department at the hospital. [6]

Academics

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URSMD offers a variety of degree programs including:

  • Doctor of Medicine (MD)
  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in biomedical sciences
  • Master’s degrees in public health, medical statistics, clinical investigation, and more
  • MD/PhD and MD/MBA dual degree programs
  • Dental education, primarily through research-focused PhD and postdoctoral opportunities in oral biology in addition to specialty training

URSMD is composed of numerous clinical and basic science departments, including:

  • Department of Medicine
  • Department of Surgery
  • Department of Neurology
  • Department of Microbiology and Immunology
  • Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology
  • Eastman Institute for Oral Health (affiliated with dental residency training and research)

Major research centers include:

  • Wilmot Cancer Institute
  • Center for RNA Biology
  • Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience
  • Environmental Health Sciences Center

SMD also received a full six-year accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education for its 26 residency programs at Strong Memorial Hospital in 2005.[7][8]

Research

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The University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry (URSMD) is a nationally recognized research institution, consistently ranked among the top U.S. medical schools in terms of federal research funding per faculty member.[9] The school is especially noted for its contributions in neuroscience, immunology, cancer biology, aging, and vaccine development.

The Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience has received significant NIH support and is known for advancing understanding in areas such as traumatic brain injury, Parkinson’s disease, and neurodevelopmental disorders.[10] The school also houses the Environmental Health Sciences Center, which investigates the effects of environmental agents on human health and is one of the longest continuously funded centers of its kind in the United States.[11]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, URSMD was selected as one of the sites for early human trials of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, contributing vital data on immunogenicity and efficacy.[12] Additionally, UR researchers played a leading role in monoclonal antibody therapy development in collaboration with Regeneron and other biotech firms.[13]

The Wilmot Cancer Institute, affiliated with the School of Medicine and Dentistry, has been a leader in translational cancer research, especially in lymphoma, leukemia, and solid tumor immunotherapy.[14]

With more than $160 million in annual NIH funding, URSMD supports over 500 active clinical and basic science studies.[15] The institution fosters interdisciplinary collaboration across its many centers and departments, leveraging its integrated academic medical center to translate scientific discoveries into clinical applications.

Reputation

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SMD has ranked in the top 35 graduate schools by U.S. News & World Report several times.[16] In 2023, the medical school's class size was 105, the mean GPA was 3.82 and mean MCAT score was 516.[17]

The University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry (URSMD) is nationally recognized for its strengths in research, clinical training, and dental education. In the 2024 U.S. News & World Report rankings, URSMD tied for 32nd in research and 40th in primary care among U.S. medical schools, placing it in Tier 1 for research and Tier 2 for primary care.[18] The school is also classified as an R1 institution for very high research activity.[19] Its dental division, the Eastman Institute for Oral Health, is internationally respected and consistently ranks among the top U.S. dental institutions for NIH funding—7th in 2020.[20]

Notable faculty and alumni

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Current and past faculty members

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Alumni

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References

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  1. ^ "UAbout the School - Quick Facts". School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester. September 3, 2024.
  2. ^ "Dentistry". URMC. Retrieved 2010-03-06.
  3. ^ "History". University of Rochester Medical Center. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
  4. ^ "History". University of Rochester Medical Center. Archived from the original on 2009-12-28. Retrieved 2010-03-06.
  5. ^ "UR Medicine's new orthopaedic facility is already benefiting area patients. Can it also help revitalize a struggling suburban shopping center?". University of Rochester Medical Center. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
  6. ^ "Transformative Project Begins at University of Rochester Medical Center's Strong Memorial Hospital". Turner Construction. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
  7. ^ ACGME: Strong Memorial Hospital of the University of Rochester
  8. ^ "A Gold Star for Graduate Medical Education". 24 June 2005. Archived from the original on 3 September 2006.
  9. ^ "NIH Funding Rankings by Medical School", Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research, 2024.
  10. ^ "About the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience", University of Rochester Medical Center.
  11. ^ "Environmental Health Sciences Center Overview", URMC.
  12. ^ Thomas, K. “Rochester chosen for coronavirus vaccine trial,” The New York Times, July 2020.
  13. ^ "Rochester Researchers Advance Antibody Therapies Against COVID-19", URMC Newsroom, 2021.
  14. ^ "Wilmot Cancer Institute Annual Research Report", 2023.
  15. ^ "FY23 Sponsored Research Funding Summary", URMC Office of Research & Project Administration.
  16. ^ "UR Schools of Nursing, Medicine Move Up in U.S. News Rankings". URMC Newsroom. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  17. ^ "Our People - MD Admissions - Medical Education - Education - University of Rochester Medical Center". www.urmc.rochester.edu. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  18. ^ "UR ranks among best medical schools in the nation for research, primary care". Rochester Business Journal. July 23, 2024. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  19. ^ "University of Rochester". Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Indiana University Center for Postsecondary Research. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  20. ^ "Eastman Institute Receives Top NIH Dental Research Funding". University of Rochester Medical Center. February 25, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  21. ^ "George P. Berry, M.D." American Association of Immunologists.
  22. ^ Altman, Lawrence K. (1986-10-09). "GEORGE P. BERRY, 87, IS DEAD; BACTERIOLOGIST AND EDUCATOR". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  23. ^ a b c Lahman, Sean. "Eight UR alums, 5 faculty members have won Nobel Prize". Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  24. ^ "27 Nov 1999, Page 11 - Democrat and Chronicle at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  25. ^ Saxon, Wolfgang (March 8, 2001). "Dr. Paul Fiset, 78, Microbiologist And Developer of Q Fever Vaccine". New York Times. p. C-17.
  26. ^ "Lisa Kitko, PhD, RN, FAHA, FAAN | Faculty & Staff Directory | University of Rochester School of Nursing". son.rochester.edu. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
  27. ^ "16 Apr 1987, 41 - The San Francisco Examiner at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  28. ^ "Dr. Diamond performed Teigen's procedure". Revelist.com. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  29. ^ "Mary Steichen Calderone". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  30. ^ "Bernadette Kathleen Drummond, Head, Associate Professor - eMedEvents". www.emedevents.com. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
  31. ^ "3 Sep 1972, 77 - Hartford Courant at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  32. ^ Leslie, Mitch (2019-03-28). "Closing in on a century-old mystery, scientists are figuring out what the body's 'tuft cells' do". Science. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  33. ^ "16 Apr 1987, 41 - The San Francisco Examiner at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  34. ^ "William Masters". The Telegraph. 19 February 2001. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  35. ^ "Philip Pizzo, MD". Stanford Distinguished Careers Institute.
  36. ^ Lichtenstein, Grace (1983-04-03). "Dr. Raskind And Ms. Richards". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  37. ^ "Taking healthy living to heart". Crain's Cleveland Business. 2004-03-15. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  38. ^ "UK variant hunters lead global race to stay ahead of COVID-19". wcnc.com. March 28, 2021. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  39. ^ "16 Nov 1975, Page 55 - Clarion-Ledger at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  40. ^ Breman, Joel (October 2016). "Donald Ainslie Henderson (1928–2016)". Nature. 538 (7623): 42. Bibcode:2016Natur.538...42B. doi:10.1038/538042a. ISSN 1476-4687. PMID 27708300.
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