The Pritzker School of Medicine is the M.D.-granting unit of the University of Chicago's Biological Sciences Division. It is located on the university's main campus in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago and matriculated its first class in 1927. It offers a full-time Doctor of Medicine degree program, joint degree programs, graduate medical education, and continuing medical education.

History

Interest in opening a medical school at the University of Chicago began in 1898 when the university became affiliated with Rush Medical College while Chicago endeavored to establish funds for the construction of a medical school. The affiliation with Rush Medical College continued until 1942. In 1916, the university's board of trustees set aside $5.3 million for its development, but World War I delayed its construction until 1921. With construction complete in 1927, the school matriculated its first class of medical students. Following a $16 million gift from the Pritzker family of Chicago (founders of the Hyatt hotel group) to the University of Chicago, the School of Medicine was renamed in their honor in 1968. Pritzker was the first medical school to hold the now international tradition of the white coat ceremony in 1989, which celebrates the students' transition and commitment to a lifelong career as a physician.

Admissions

For the entering Class of 2023, 6,564 people applied and 629 interviewed for a class size of 90 spots; accepted applicants had a GPA range of 3.30 and 4.00, and a MCAT score range of 505-527.

Rankings

U.S. News & World Report, in its 2022 edition of rankings, ranked Pritzker School of Medicine #34 in "Best Medical Schools: Primary Care" and #17 in "Best Medical Schools: Research".

Education

The Pritzker School of Medicine offers the Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree. The school offers joint doctorate degrees through its Medical Scientist Training Program, Growth, Development, and Disabilities Training Program and MD-PhD Programs in Medicine, the Social Sciences, and Humanities. Joint master's degrees are offered in business, law, and policy. A peer-reviewed publication in the journal for the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) found that Pritzker ranked 4th among top U.S. medical schools for graduate success in academic medicine and biomedical research (i.e., awards, publications, grants, and clinical trials from 60 years of graduate outcomes analysis up to 2015). The school's primary teaching hospital is the University of Chicago Medical Center. In July 2008, Pritzker entered into a teaching affiliation with NorthShore University HealthSystem.

Notable alumni