Programs
MD Program
Penn State College of Medicine offers a complete medical education program leading to the MD degree. Its central campus is located in Hershey, Pa., adjacent to Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, which is a part of Penn State Health's multi-hospital health system.
Our Vision for Medical Education
A Comprehensive Model
Our goal is to train humanistic, systems-ready physicians who are adaptive, critical thinking, collaborative and scholarly.
Traditionally, medical education has focused on two pillars: medical science and clinical care. As health care delivery rapidly shifts from physician-centric to patient-centric, and patient care involves both the care of the individual and the care of populations, a more comprehensive model is needed.
At Penn State College of Medicine, the two pillars have transformed to four.
The Four Pillars
Health Humanities
Students attending the Penn State College of Medicine find humanities principles and content throughout the curriculum. With the oldest Humanities Department in a college of medicine in the country, humanism has been built into our history and woven into the fabric of our curriculum from our inception.
Biomedical Sciences
Courses that are predominantly related to biomedical sciences provide exposure to foundational basic sciences and medical specialties. Students will be exposed to faculty with a diverse range of expertise and teaching philosophies.
Clinical Sciences
A combination of classroom and clinical settings provides students the opportunity to apply learned skills to actual patient encounters. Required core clinical clerkships begin toward the end of Year 2.
Health Systems Science
We were one of the first medical schools in the country to implement Health Systems Science into the curriculum. The Patient Experience Program provides students the opportunity to work directly with a patient the first day of medical school.
Hershey Curriculum
Based in Hershey at the College of Medicine and Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, the central curriculum is revolutionizing the way tomorrow’s doctors are trained. We’ve created a four-pillar curriculum designed to give students a global perspective of the healthcare system.
Beginning your first year, you’ll serve as a patient navigator, guiding patients on a smoother journey through the often-complicated process of getting the care they need.
University Park Curriculum
With the University Park Curriculum located on the largest campus at Penn State, you will have the opportunity to take advantage of the resources of a major Big Ten university campus, and engage early on in health care at the community level. The University Park curriculum is equivalent to Hershey, ensuring a high-quality medical education that meets rigorous standards. The integration of the basic and clinical sciences with health systems science and health humanities, community engagement and experiential learning form the core elements of the educational mission at University Park.
Additional Educational Tracks
Accelerated Tracks
Penn State College of Medicine offers pathways with accelerated educational experiences and early entry into residency. These pathways allow students who have committed to a specialty area to finish medical school early and match into a Penn State residency program, helping to accelerate their professional development.
MD/PhD Program
Through the MD/PhD Medical-Scientist Training Program, you’ll gain the tools and training you need to become a successful physician-scientist. The program, typically completed in eight years, will prepare you for a successful career as a physician and scientist in biomedical and health medical research, academic medicine, or a related field.
Looking for Your Next Step?
What Else Makes Us Different
Global-Minded
You’ll have the unique opportunity to improve health around the world. Students in the Global Health Scholars Program travel to partner sites and provide essential care. Rural Scholars focus on community needs in Pennsylvania.
Community-Engaged
College of Medicine students also have direct involvement in the betterment of the central Pennsylvania community. Student-run medical clinics and mobile clinics provide community health outreach in Hershey, rural Centre County and beyond.
Diversity-Committed
We are committed to increasing the representation of our student population and workforce to reflect our nation’s demographics. We are equally committed to effectively caring for our increasingly diverse population.
