Perelman School of Medicine

The University of Pennsylvania is the oldest and one of the finest medical schools in the United States. Penn is rich in tradition and heritage and at the same time consistently at the forefront of new developments and innovations in medical education and research. Since its founding in 1765 the School has been a strong presence in the community and prides itself on educating the leaders of tomorrow in patient care, biomedical research, and medical education. 

At Penn academic excellence, as well as compassion for the patients we are privileged to serve, are stressed. Skillful compassion is truly a hallmark of the Penn learning experience. The Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania consistently ranks among the top schools in US News and World Report’s rankings of research-oriented medical schools. 

As the nation's first medical school and home to the first teaching hospital, the Perelman School of Medicine has a long tradition of academic excellence and scientific discovery. Building on this tradition, our innovative, interdisciplinary research programs continue today to pave the way for a future of new paradigms in cutting-edge science. As an internationally renowned community of scientists and physicians, we are dedicated to both advancing knowledge and fostering a culture of excellence in training the next generation of scientific leaders. Our faculty are at the forefront of the biomedical revolution, and we are committed to sustaining a vibrant intellectual environment, with the ultimate goal of translating ground-breaking discoveries into medical therapies that will eradicate disease and improve health care around the world. The development of the COVID-19 vaccine is one such example of how our faculty have direct impact on health care around the world.

Our mission is to advance knowledge and improve health through research, patient care, and the education of trainees in an inclusive culture that embraces diversity, fosters innovation, stimulates critical thinking, supports lifelong learning, and sustains our legacy of excellence. 

For more information, visit: https://www.med.upenn.edu/psom/overview.html.

Biomedical Graduate Studies

Overview

Biomedical Graduate Studies was established in 1985 and serves as the academic home within the University of Pennsylvania for more than 900 students pursuing a PhD in the basic biomedical sciences, including approximately 150 students pursuing a coordinated dual MD/PhD or VMD/PhD degree program. BGS provides training and administration through seven graduate groups, some of which have distinct sub-specialty areas. The Perelman School of Medicine is the home school for BGS, and approximately 500 PSOM faculty members participate in BGS as course directors, research mentors, program leaders, and in other educational roles.  Another 150 BGS faculty members have primary academic appointments in the other associated health schools (Veterinary, Dental, or Nursing) or in Arts & Sciences, Engineering & Applied Science, or Wharton.  BGS faculty members also include researchers based in associated institutes, including the Wistar Institute and the National Institutes of Health. Consequently, BGS students have the opportunity to learn about virtually any area of modern biomedical research.

For more information, visit http://www.med.upenn.edu/bgs/.

Mission

The mission of Biomedical Graduate Studies is to provide each student with a broad-based foundation in a core academic discipline; flexible, interdisciplinary options for scientific and career development; and rigorous research training. Each graduate group has its own academic mission, leadership, and staff, but there is often significant overlap among the groups in respect to faculty membership, courses offered, policies, and procedures.  BGS students are admitted with a full-funded fellowship for the duration of their training and may participate in a variety of optional certificate programs and student-run affinity groups for the exploration of academic and professional development interests.  To date, roughly 3000 students have obtained a PhD in BGS. Virtually all BGS graduates are employed in fields that make use of their PhD training.  The majority of BGS alumni engage in a postdoctoral research period, after which 39% conduct research in academia, 22% conduct research in industry, 8% are engaged primarily in post-secondary teaching, 8% are in communications, and the remainder are based in a variety of related fields, including consulting, policy, patent law, and grants management. 

Master's & Certificate Programs

Overview

The Perelman School of Medicine Master’s & Certificate Programs (MaC) leverages the strengths of Penn Medicine, a world-renowned academic medical center, to train the next generation of researchers and professionals who will contribute to the integrated health care system. MaC includes thirteen professional master’s degrees and various certificate programs, totaling approximately 700 students. These programs prepare students for careers in health care practice, research, and patient care.

Each MaC program is independently managed by interdisciplinary faculty and staff. The MaC Program Office enables its programs to pursue their goals within the university environment through academic administrative support and collaborations amongst programs and between schools in the university.

For more information, visit https://www.med.upenn.edu/psom/masters.html

Mission

The mission of the Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM) Master’s & Certificate Programs (MaC) is to contribute to the integrated health care system by preparing students for careers in health care practice, research, and patient care. Each program embodies its own academic mission and contributes to PSOM’s mission to advance knowledge and improve health through research, patient care, and the education of trainees in an inclusive culture that embraces diversity, fosters innovation, stimulates critical thinking, supports lifelong learning, and sustains our legacy of excellence.

As the nation's first medical school and home to the first teaching hospital, the Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM) enjoys a long tradition of academic excellence and scientific discovery.  

The PSOM Learning for Life program is a four-year multidisciplinary curriculum comprising six modules organized around three themes: the science of medicine, the technology and practice of medicine, and professionalism and humanism. The curriculum emphasizes self-directed lifelong learning and small-group instruction. The Henry A. Jordan Medical Education Center itself plays a prominent role in the training of future physicians and scientists; it is among the first medical education spaces in the nation physically integrated into active clinical and research facilities. 

PSOM medical students can choose from approximately 150 electives and have one and a half years to explore the possibilities. PSOM also offers extensive MD+ options, including eight master's degrees and 10 certificates available through its various schools. Penn’s 12 schools share a single contiguous campus, providing exceptional opportunities for student to engage interprofessionally.

For more information: https://www.med.upenn.edu/student/

Research

As the nation’s first medical school and home to the first teaching hospital, the Perelman School of Medicine has a long tradition of academic excellence and scientific discovery.  Building on this tradition, our innovative, interdisciplinary research programs continue today to pave the way for a future of new paradigms in cutting-edge science. As an internationally renowned community of scientists and physicians, we are dedicated to both advancing knowledge and fostering a culture of excellence in training the next generation of scientific leaders. Our faculty are at the forefront of the biomedical revolution, and we are committed to sustaining a vibrant intellectual environment, with the ultimate goal of translating ground-breaking discoveries into medical therapies that will eradicate disease and improve health care around the world. The development of the COVID-19 vaccine is one such example of how research efforts from Penn Medicine change the ways in which we live.

The School's research enterprise incorporates all areas of contemporary biomedical investigation, with the advantage of being unified on a single campus. The School is comprised of 28 basic and clinical departments, with nearly 3,000 faculty members and more than 2,500 students and trainees. In fiscal year 2020, the School received $891million in support of its research activities from extramural sponsors, including $496 million from the National Institutes of Health, ranking sixth in the nation among all academic medical institutions. 

Faculty at the Perelman School of Medicine work across disciplines to expand the frontiers of scientific knowledge while translating significant breakthroughs into tangible health benefits to improve the lives of patients.  Within its diverse, interdisciplinary network of expertise, resources, and exceptional faculty, staff and trainees, the Perelman School of Medicine epitomizes collaborative research across departments and schools, as exemplified by our centers and institutes.  These include the Abramson Cancer Center, one of 49 Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the country approved and designated by the National Cancer Institute; the Penn Cardiovascular Institute;  the Penn Center for AIDS Research; the Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism; the Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences; the Center for Orphan Disease Research and Therapy; the Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics; the Penn Institute for Biomedical Informatics; and the Penn Epigenetics Institute.  The specific initiatives of these and other centers, institutes, and departments are outlined within this website, along with our exceptional biomedical core facilities and robust research training programs. 

For more information, visit: https://www.med.upenn.edu/research/welcome.html. 

Inclusion and Diversity

Lasting commitment is born of genuine appreciation for that which we aspire to be.  Penn Medicine’s commitment to inclusion and diversity is more than words echoing our evolving society; it is a commitment backed by actions that are the foundation of our eminence, core values, and the strategic priorities that drive how we discover, educate, and serve the world. 

Our efforts are aimed at supporting the many innovative programs underway, as well as exploring new opportunities to embrace diversity and broaden access to people of all ethnicities, historical traditions and economic backgrounds, genders, religions and disabilities, and respecting sexual orientation and veteran status.

For more information, visit: https://www.med.upenn.edu/inclusion-and-diversity/.