If you’d like to pursue a medical career in Missouri, there are quite a few good options for you. Missouri has six medical schools, two of them are public and the rest are private, which is a good mix for both resident and out-of-state students! These universities grant M.D. and O.D. degrees. In fact, Missouri was the first state to have an osteopathic medical school! So, let’s start with our list of the best medical schools in Missouri.
Read More About 10 Steps to Become a Doctor in the United States
Top Medical Schools in Missouri
1. Washington University School of Medicine (WUSM)
Founded in 1891, the Washington University School of Medicine (WUSM) has a long list of accomplishments that back up the quality education offered here. WUSM has consistently ranked in the top ten medical schools in the U.S. since university rankings appeared. In the 2019 U.S. News & World Report ranking, it was the 8th best in terms of research and the 12th best in terms of primary care.
Additionally, many Nobel Prize winners have been WUSM students, teachers or members of the research groups. We are talking of almost 20 notable figures that include Luis Leloir and Rita Levi-Montalcini.
WUSM has many more programs besides the M.D. degree. Dual degree programs include M.D./Ph.D., M.D./M.P.H. (Master’s of Public Health), M.D./M.S.C.I. (Master’s of Science in Clinical Investigation), and M.D./M.P.H.S. (Master’s of Population Health Sciences).
There are also programs in Audiology, Deaf Education, Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy. For those who want to obtain a Master’s or Ph.D. degree, there are over 20 programs available at this medical school in Missouri. These are available in areas like immunology, neurosciences, biostatistics, genetic epidemiology, among others.
As for admissions, in the 2018 – 2019 academic year, 4,716 people applied and only 124 enrolled. If you visit their website, you’ll learn how the life of students is. Real students from WUSM explain how their experiences are year by year. There are great extracurricular activities for students and financial aid is available for all. They also accept international students.
Check Also: 7 Cheap Medical Schools in USA
2. Saint Louis University School of Medicine (SLUSOM)
Saint Louis University School of Medicine (SLUSOM) is a private medical school founded in 1836. In 2019, according to the U.S. News & World Report, it was considered the 59th best in terms of primary care, and the 72nd best in terms of research.
Although it is not as high in the ranking, SLUSOM is a pioneer in different research and medical fields. For example, the first heart transplant in Missouri was done in this medical school, and they have ongoing research projects in the areas of cardiovascular disease, geriatric medicine, and neurosciences. Also, it is a vaccine research medical school funded by NIH.
Students will complete the M.D. program in modern facilities that have simulation models, standardized patients, and mannequins to practice specific procedures. Classes consist of small groups and problem-solving activities at this medical school in Missouri.
They offer dual degree programs where you can combine your M.D. degree with a Ph.D., a Master’s of Business Administration, or a Master’s of Public Health. In the case of Ph.D. degrees, these are available in Anatomy, Pathology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pharmacological and Physiological Sciences, and Molecular Microbiology and Immunology.
Out of the more than 8,000 applicants in 2018, 181 students were accepted. Their average GPA was 3.85 and their average MCAT score was 513. Admissions are done through the AMCAS platform and besides taking the MCAT, students must submit recommendation letters, proof of completing the courses required, and any other relevant experience in the medical field.
Feel Free to Check: 10 Tuition-Free Universities in USA
3. University of Missouri School of Medicine – Columbia
University of Missouri School of Medicine was founded in 1872 and is located in Columbia, in the southern area of the university’s campus. It should not be confused with the University of Missouri: Kansas City School of Medicine, which belongs to the same university and is located in Kansas. Admissions there are different from admissions in the campus of Columbia because they have a six-year program that admits high school students and grants BA/MD degrees.
According to the U.S. News & World Report ranking of 2019, the University of Missouri School of Medicine was considered the 64th best in terms of primary care, and the 82nd best in terms of research.
The MD program divides into foundational coursework and clinical rotations. During the first two years, they focus on developing basic clinical skills through methods that are based on experiences with patients and small-group classes. This means that lectures are just a minimal part of the curriculum.
The third-year consists of core clerkship in specific areas. The fourth year focuses on developing advanced clinical skills through rotations that combine selective, electives, and Advanced Biomedical Sciences courses.
There are also dual degree programs, masters, and doctorates. These are offered in the areas of biochemistry, nutrition and exercise physiology, medical pharmacology, and physiology, among others.
In 2016, there were 2,167 applicants but only 104 enrolled. However, in 2017 they opened a clinical campus in Springfield which allowed them to expand class sizes. That’s why in 2018 there were 112 first-year students.
4. A. T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (ATSU-KCOM)
T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (ATSU-KCOM) was founded in 1892, and it has evolved into a very modern medical school that combines cutting-edge technology, research, and a holistic approach.
The D.O. program focuses on providing an education that follows the osteopathic approach. During the whole program, students will learn all the aspects of preventive medicine and classes will be patient-based. During the first two years, education consists of foundational coursework in basic and clinical sciences. The last two years consist of clinical rotation that can be done in one of the affiliated centers located in 10 different states.
ATSU-KCOM has a very modern simulation center. This medical school in Missouri is equipped with full-sized adult, child, and mother and infant simulators. These are incredibly realistic and are sensitive to pharmacological interventions.
Along with the DO degree, they also offer a Master’s of Biomedical Sciences.
In 2018, there were 4,357 applicants. 457 of them were interviewed but only 172 enrolled. Their average GPA was 3.61 and their average MCAT score was 503.
As this is a private medical school, they accept international students and don’t have any particular preference regarding state residency. In fact, the 2018 entering class had students from 29 states.
We hope that this article on medical schools in Missouri was helpful. To know more information on studying abroad, check out the Available Programs for International Students!
