A Closer Look at David Geffen School of Medicine
The David Geffen School of Medicine is one of a dozen professional schools associated with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Established in 1951, the school now holds a prestigious place among the finest medical education institutions in the United States. The school is named after philanthropist David Geffen, who in 2002 donated $200 million unrestrictively to it. To pay homage to this generous contribution, the school was subsequently renamed the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.
Dedicated to medical research, education, and patient care, the David Geffen School of Medicine has cultivated a vibrant, intellectually challenging, and inclusive community. The school provides medical students, residents, and fellows with high quality education and training so they can become future leaders in healthcare, transformative physicians, and innovative researchers.
The David Geffen School of Medicine asserts its standards of excellence through its prominent faculty members, who are globally recognized for their contributions to medical science. The school facilitates research in numerous areas such as cancer, neuroscience, heart disease, and transplantation, among others.
UCLA Medical Center, a primary teaching hospital for the school, holds the distinction of being one of the country’s best. With branches like the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, Stewart and Lynda Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital, and Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center and Orthopaedic Hospital, students get invaluable hands-on experience treating patients.
The school boasts of a unique curriculum, Problem-Based Learning (PBL), for the first two years, immersing students in simulated patient care scenarios. This exposes students to real-world medical cases from the beginning of their medical education and encourages critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Renowned for its various outreach and community programs, the David Geffen School of Medicine maintains its commitment towards addressing the health needs of the most marginalized and underserved communities. It hosts the Mobile Clinic Project at UCLA, a volunteer student-run organization that provides free health care to the homeless in the Los Angeles area.
The school is situated amidst a thriving, multicultural city, allowing students to experience diverse forms of culture, various interests, and countless recreation activities. Los Angeles offers unique opportunities for students to immerse themselves in social services and public health initiatives, broadening their understanding of health care in real-world situations.
In sync with UCLA’s core mission of promoting diversity and inclusivity, the David Geffen School of Medicine values the varied backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives of its students. It supports a variety of student interest groups promoting cultural, academic, and social interests among the student body.
Its prime location in the heart of Los Angeles provides access to diverse patient populations across the region. And in a special collaboration, the school has a partnership program with the North-West College Site in Pomona. The collaboration strives to further the reach of health care services, studies, and research opportunities to a broader demographic.
Looking toward the future, the David Geffen School of Medicine continues to strive for excellence in education, research, and patient care. This commitment allows the academic institution to maintain, and even enhance, its status as one of the top-ranked medical schools in the United States and the world.