Harvard Medical School

One of the graduate schools located at Harvard University, Harvard Medical School was established on September 19, 1782 and is ranked number one as a school of medicine in American research, according to U.S. News and World Report. It is located in Boston, Massachusetts, in the Longwood Medical Area. Harvard Medical School has approximately 700 students in its M.D. program and 580 in its Ph.D program. The faculty of Harvard Medical School is among the top in the country, filled with experienced researchers, professors, and clinical practice.

The Two Programs of Harvard Medical School:
The few students who are accepted into the school of medicine at Harvard every year choose one of two path programs for an M.D. degree. The larger of the two programs, called New Pathway, is designed to offer students a learning experienced rich in problem solving. The other program, called HST, focuses on medical research and is run by the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology.

History:
Founded by Dr. John Warren, the school of medicine at Harvard is the third oldest medical school still in operation in the United States The first class of the school, consisting of just two students, graduated in 1788. During the years of 1816 to 1846, the school was known as Massachusetts Medical College of Harvard University and was located on Mason Street. Eventually, after several relocations, it found its permanent home at Longwood Avenue in 1906. This is the location where the school had its famous “Great White Quadrangle”, where five marble buildings, white in color, stand close to each other. The school of medicine at Harvard has three teaching hospitals: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

Societies of Harvard Medical School:
Both medical and dental students within the school are divided in five different societies, all of which are named after famous alumni that have graduated from the school. Each society has a head master with several associate society masters, all of which are advisors to the students attending the school of medicine. As tradition continues, every year the five societies compete in what is called the Society Olympics for a prize called the Pink Flamingo. The events in the Society Olympics include dance-offs, dodge ball, limbo contests, among other events.
The Departments of Harvard Medical School:
Educational program focuses at the school of medicine include the following subjects:

• Ambulatory Care and Prevention;
• Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology;
• Cell Biology;
• Genetics;
• Global Health and Social Medicine;
• Health Care Policy;
• Microbiology and Molecular Genetics;
• Neurobiology;
• Pathology;
• Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology;
• Systems Biology.

There are also 50 clinical departments at the school of medicine that are used for conducting normal and clinical research. In the Quad area is also two social science departments, including the Department of Ambulatory Care and Prevention, which is jointly run by the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. Ph.D educational programs are handled by the Division of Medical Sciences.