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U-M Medical School History The University of Michigan Medical School was the first medical school in the U.S. to own and operate its own hospital, among the first major medical schools to admit women and the first major medical school to base its instruction on science. The UM Medical School was also a pioneer in the introduction of the modern medical curriculum and the development of the clinical clerkships as part of medical student education. In the late nineteenth century the UM Medical School embarked on a mission to involve students as active participants rather than passive observers in their education, and to teach students how to acquire and interpret information. These activities occurred during a period of profound change in medical education. The Medical School had opened its doors in 1850 and charged the first class of medical students $5 a year for two years of education. The curriculum was all lecture, and the second year was a repeat of the first. None of the members in that first class were college graduates, and all were white males. To gain admission, they were required to know some Greek and enough Latin to read and write prescriptions. In 1871 the UM Medical School graduated its first woman, Amanda Sanford. Ms. Sanford was admitted on somewhat of a technicality in that the UM regents passed a resolution that year allowing any Michigan resident to enroll at the University; the resolution did not mention, and therefore did not exclude, women and African Americans. In 1873 W. Henry Fitzbutler became the first African American medical student to graduate from the Medical School. Mr. Fitzbutler was the son of a slave. In the late 1870s the UM Medical School increased its annual term from six months to nine, and in 1880 a three year curriculum was adopted, laboratory instruction was introduced, and grades were assigned. In 1899 the UM Medical School successfully introduced the clinical clerkship, having succeeded where other medical schools had failed largely because the UM owned its own hospital (privately owned hospitals would not allow medical students to touch their patients). At the start of the twentieth century, the UM Medical School led efforts to revise and improve medical curricula, doubling the length of the program for the M.D. degree and integrating clinical rotations into every student's course of study. In the 1950s through the 1960s sweeping changes were made in the UM's medical curriculum, including early student contact with patients and an inter departmental course in the neurosciences. The late 1960s was an era of increased clinical training in the first two (predominantly basic science) years of medical school. The UM, along with many medical schools across the country, adopted an interdepartmental Introduction to Clinical Medicine course that would remain a staple of the first two years for more than 20 years. In this same period, subinternships were introduced in the senior year; they remain part of the UM Medical School advanced clinical curriculum. The UM Medical School continues its long tradition of excellence with a diverse and outstanding student body, world renowned basic science and clinical faculty, a completely revised curriculum for the M.D. degree, and exceptional facilities for patient care, education and research. The University of Michigan has 51,000 students and 5,600 faculty on its three campuses. The UM Medical School ranks ninth among all medical schools in terms of NIH awards, while the UM's Medical School, College of Engineering, Law School, School of Business Administration, School of Dentistry, College of Pharmacy, School of Nursing, School of Public Health and School of Social Work all rank in the top ten nationally. The Medical Center is within easy walking distance of downtown, and there are also free rides on the University buses which connect all parts of the campus. Most medical students live in apartment complexes that are within a short and delightful walk to the medical campus. As of April, 2002, 680 medical students at the University of Michigan were actively working toward their M.D. degree. More than 18,000 physicians have earned their medical degrees at the University of Michigan Medical School since the first graduating class of six students in 1851. University of
Michigan Medical School
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