A career in medicine can be highly rewarding, both intrinsically and monetarily. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare occupations are projected to grow by 14% in the years 2018 to 2028, adding nearly 1.9 million new jobs in the sector. This is a bigger job addition than in any other occupational group. The median annual wage for healthcare practitioners and technical occupations in May 2018 was $66,440, which is significantly higher than the median wage for all occupations in the economy ($38,640). To put things into perspective, following are a few medical professions and their respective salaries, as per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics:
| Occupation | Median Salary (2018) |
|---|---|
| Anesthesiologists | $208,000 or more |
| Pediatricians, General | $170,560 |
| Physicians and Surgeons, All Other | $200,890 |
| Psychiatrists | $208,000 or more |
| Surgeons | $208,000 or more |
| Obstetricians and Gynecologists | $208,000 or more |
If you want to enter this field, the following list of the 15 Top Medical Schools would be of interest to you.
Note: The following list has been compiled using the 2020 rankings by US News regarding the Best Medical Schools for Research.
- Harvard University
The Harvard Medical School has been providing top quality medical education for more than 50 years now. It offers a huge variety of programs at various levels for all kinds of students. It offers a stellar Medical Degree (MD) program, several master’s degree programs, PhD degree programs, certificate options, postgraduate study options and executive options for organizations that seek to drive growth and innovation in the healthcare sector. HMS is committed to advancing the core mission of the school, which is to ‘alleviate human suffering by nurturing a diverse group of leaders and future leaders in both clinical care and biomedical inquiry.”
- Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine aims to connect the best minds in science and patient care to come up with solutions for the rising number of healthcare problems in the world. The university offers unique options for medical students, including dual degrees and combined degree options. It also offers options for residents, fellows and postdoctoral fellows. Johns Hopkins also has several other amazing graduate programs for medical students.
- Stanford University
The Stanford School of Medicine offers multiple programs with a flexible curriculum and several learning pathways. It offers a wide range of dual degrees and has a vast number of clinical and leadership opportunities for aspiring medical professionals. The Stanford Medical School offers an MD program, a PA program, PhD programs, Master’s programs, dual-degree programs, primary care associate program, professional training options, summer programs and a lot more.
- University of Pennsylvania – Perelman
The Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania is ranked at number 3 among the best medical schools in research in the US. With $814 million in annual sponsored research, the university is always working to come up with solutions to the world’s leading medical concerns. The Perelman School of Medicine has various departments, divided into basic science and clinical departments.
- University of California – San Francisco
The University of California School of Medicine offers various education programs for aspiring medical students. It offers an MD curriculum, MD/Masters in Advanced Studies (MD/MAS), MD with Distinction, Medical Assistant Training Program, UC Berkeley – UCSF Joint Medical Program (MD, MS), MD, Masters of Public Health Program, Program in Medical Education for the Urban Underserved and many others.
- Columbia University
The Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia offers an MD program, MD Dual Degrees and Special Programs, Programs in Genetic Counseling, Programs in Occupational Therapy, Programs in Human Nutrition, PhDs in Biomedical Sciences, Additional Master’s Degree Programs, Additional Educational Opportunities and Programs in Physical Therapy among other options. The university has been a major contributor to the healthcare sector, preparing leaders and role models.
- University of California – Los Angeles (Geffen)
The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA offers various paths for entering the field of healthcare. It offers the MD Education path, a medical scientist training program, a residency education program, PhD programs, postdoctoral programs, continuing medical education programs and a lot more. The diverse student body at UCLA’s school of medicine also contributes to a greater learning experience, helping students understand the humanistic, legal and cultural aspects of medicine.
- Washington University in St. Louis
The Washington University School of Medicine provides students with a challenging environment through collaborations across scientific and healthcare disciplines. Many of the MD, PhD and master’s programs offered here in Medicine, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Audiology rank among the best in the country. The university also has numerous residency and fellowship options.
- Cornell University (Weill)
The Weill Cornell Medicine is one of the finest medical schools in the country. It has been training future healthcare and scientific leaders through its selective programs, comprehensive student services and unique international partnerships. The medical school at Cornell offers medical education, graduate education, MD-PhD programs, international programs, internships and a lot more. With a low student to faculty ratio, the university ensures that each student gets the required attention.
- Mayo Clinic School of Medicine (Alix)
The College of Medicine at Mayo Clinic, also known as the Alix School of Medicine offers an amazing MD program, which focuses on patient care and clinical experiences. In addition to that, the MD program at the Alix School of Medicine exposes students to detailed biomedical research, which helps expand their understanding of medicine.
- New York University (Langone)
The New York University’s medical school is ranked at number 9 in the nation for research, and offers several amazing programs. Aspiring medical professionals would be delighted to know that NYU has recently kicked off its tuition-free initiative, enabling students to join the workforce without having to worry about a never-ending student debt. The MD curriculum is a four-year long program, starting with stage one of pre-clerkship curriculum.
- University of Washington
The MD Program at the University of Washington offers a comprehensive curriculum in a modern training framework. The curriculum features an active “flipped” classroom approach that involves clinical skills being taught in various settings, such as the classroom, hospitals and outpatient care centers. The university also offers a stellar MD/PhD program, which is a joint degree, combining the best of UW Medicine and UW Research. Students, who are funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), receive an “MSTP” designation upon the completion of this degree. This particular program is ideal for students who are interested in research.
- Duke University
The Duke University School of Medicine offers a variety of programs and paths for aspiring medical professionals. The Health Education programs offered at Duke include The Doctor of Medicine (MD) Program, the Medical Scientist Training Program (MD/PhD), the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program (DPT), the Physician Assistant Program (MHS, PA-C), the Clinical Leadership Program (MHS), the Clinical Leadership Training Program (MHS), a Master of Biomedical Sciences Program, Master of Biostatistics and several others.
- University of Pittsburgh
The School of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh is one of the most distinguished medical programs in the country, with a strong commitment to research. The school first started in 1817 as the Western Pennsylvania Medical College and has been producing top notch medical professionals. The university prides itself on teaching aspiring doctors different ways to handle the latest problems in the field and making a contribution through research. The University of Pittsburgh offers several amazing programs such as the MD Program, PhD/Master’s/Certificate Program, MD/PhD Program, Physician Scientist Training Program, Clinical Scientist Training Program, Multidisciplinary MPH Program, Medicine/Bioethics Joint Degree, Post Doctoral Scholars & Associates Program and several others. The university also offers programs for visiting students and summer semester options for a more enriching educational experience.
- Yale University
The Yale School of Medicine has long been at the forefront of educating tomorrow’s physicians scientists through scientific discovery. It offers several amazing educational tracks for aspiring medical professionals. These include the likes of its MD Program, MD/PhD Program, MD/MPH Program and the MD/MHS Program. In addition to these, the university also offers several options for medical students in collaboration with other departments. These programs include the MD/JD degree with a law focus, an MD/MBA with a management focus and an MD/MDiv, with a divinity focus. The Yale University is also home to some of the most amazing PA programs for aspiring Physician Assistants. The Physician Associate Program is a campus based option, and the university also offers a Physician Assistant Online Program.
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