Medical Schools on the West Coast

<p>The medical school at Stanford University offers an MD program to students from their campus in Stanford, California, and dual-degree programs in MD/MPP, MD/JD, MD/MBA, MD/MS, MD/MPH, MD/Ph.D. This program focuses on equipping successful graduates with the education and skills they need to become leaders in medicine, science, and patient care. Stanford's approach involves destandardized degree pathways for students to somewhat self-curate their own curriculum, with program lengths spanning from 4 years for MD students with a scholarly concentration, to 5 years for MD students with an in-depth research experience concentration, up to 8 years for students completing a dual MD/Ph.D. program. Courses in these programs include Molecular Foundations, Embryology, Microbiology, and Immunology. </p> <h2 id="section---UniversityOfCaliforniaDavis">University of California Davis</h2> <p>The University of California Davis School of Medicine focuses on competency to produce graduates who will serve as health leaders and improve the healthcare outcomes of their communities. The school offers an MD program, as well as an MD/Ph.D. and an MD/MPH dual-degree track. The first two years of this program constitute the pre-clerkship portion of the curriculum when students will learn a combination of basic sciences and clinical sciences as well as how they are interrelated. The third-year begins with a course to help ease students into their clerkship experiences which constitute the bulk of the third-year curriculum. The fourth-year is similarly structured, but with a focus toward internships and residency. </p> <h2 id="section---UniversityOfCaliforniaSanDiego">University of California San Diego</h2> <p>The University of Sandiego School of Medicine stresses a strong scientific basis for medical learning and practice through its Integrated Scientific Curriculum. This school offers an MD program as well as an MD/Ph.D. option. While most of the latter years of study in this curriculum are standardized for all students, students are free to select electives during the preclinical phase of their studies. The standard part of the first two years focuses on coursework in human health and disease, with a foundational education in clinical skills. The third-year is centered around clerkships, with the fourth year involving clerkships, clinical electives, and residency transition. </p> <h2 id="section---PacificNorthwestUniversity">Pacific Northwest University</h2> <p>The Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) program at Pacific Northwest University is suited for those looking to be certified by the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME), as the program is built around competencies highlighted by the NBOME. This four-year program begins with classroom and laboratory studies and clinical skills courses. The first two years, known as the pre-clinical years, prepare students for the clinical experiences in years three and four. Courses in this program include Scientific Foundations of Medicine, The Scientific Foundations of Medicine, and Osteopathic Principles and Practice. </p> <h2 id="section---OregonHealthAndScienceUniversity">Oregon Health and Science University</h2> <p>The Oregon Health and Science University School of Medicine's MD program underscores producing graduates who will improve health access for Oregon residence, develop new medical knowledge and technologies, and be prepared for a lifetime of both leadership and scholarship. OHSU allows for a more independent study approach, for students to somewhat customize their own learning experiences. Students typically complete this program in under four years -- three years and ten months. For this program, clinical experiences will begin in the first year and continue throughout the curriculum. Courses in this program are offered by way of academic blocks that focus on certain subjects such as Blood and Host Defense, Skin Bones and Musculature, and Hormones and Digestion. </p> <h2 id="section---WesternUniversityOfHealthSciences">Western University of Health Sciences</h2> <p>The Western University of Health Sciences is home to The College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP). COMP strives to meet the WesternU institutional outcomes including breadth and depth of knowledge in the discipline/clinical competence, ethical and moral decision-making skills, and evidence-based Practice through the DO educational program. The semester constitutes phase 1 of the COMP curriculum and focuses on an introduction to the basics of core scientific study. Phase 2 begins immediately thereafter as students begin to develop their clinical competencies. The final phase then moves on to a focus on direct clinical training. </p> <h2 id="section---UniversityOfWashington">University of Washington</h2> <p>Students of the University of Washington school of medicine can begin their MD studies at one of UW's five campuses. The first 18 months of this program, also known as the foundations phase is made up of on-campus learning experiences including interdisciplinary coursework and clinical skills. Third-year students will then move onto the patient care phase which offers students the chance to engage in clinical experiences through a variety of clerkships. The final year focuses on advanced clinical experiences, electives, and a transition to residency. </p> <h2 id="section---UniversityOfCaliforniaLosAngelos">University of California, Los Angelos</h2> <p>UCLA offers an MD program, as well as an MD/Ph.D. track. Additionally, the David Geffen School of Medicine partners with UCLA's college of life science for Ph.D. programs. The UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine's MD program is another four-year medical degree program divided into three phases. The first two years constitute the first phase: Human Biology and Disease. This phase equips students with educational foundations and clinical skills for their later studies. Phase 2 has students begin their core clinical clerkships. The final phase is comprised of electives as well as preparation for residencies and internships </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th> School Name </th><th> Programs Offered </th><th> Tuition Cost 2018-2019*</th></tr> <tr><td> Stanford University </td><td> MD, MD/MPP, MD/JD, MD/MBA, MD/MS, MD/MPH, MD/Ph.D. </td><td> $50,703</td></tr> <tr><td> University of California, Davis </td><td> MD, MD/Ph.D., MD/MPH </td><td> In-State: $11,442, Out-of-State: $26,544</td></tr> <tr><td>University of California, San Diego </td><td> MD, MD/Ph.D </td><td> In-State: $11,442,Out-of-State: $26,544</td></tr> <tr><td>Pacific Northwest University </td><td> DO </td><td> $54,500**</td></tr> <tr><td> Oregon Health and Science University </td><td> MD </td><td> $20,412</td></tr> <tr><td> Western University of Health Sciences </td><td> DO </td><td>$59,600***</td></tr> <tr><td> University of Washington </td><td> MD </td><td> In-State: $15,510 Out-of-State: $27,801</td></tr> <tr><td> University of California Los Angelos </td><td> MD, MD/Ph.D. </td><td> In-State: $11,442, Out-of-State: $26,544</td></tr> </table><p><i>Sources: *NCES **PNWU.edu ***WesternU.edu (cost with fees) </i></p> <h2 id="section---AdmissionRequirementsForTheseWestCoastMedicalSchools">Admission Requirements for these West-Coast Medical Schools</h2> <p>Typically, students will need to have completed an undergraduate education with a GPA around or above 3.0 and with demonstrated studies in related coursework to qualify for admission in these programs. MCAT scores will also need to be submitted. Although letters of recommendation are not required for admission into all of these schools, they are also a common requirement. For those looking to enter into dual degree programs, schools may also require up to date GRE or GMAT scores. </p> <p>The west coast has a variety of medical schools on offer, all of which offer pre-clinical and clinical educations through a variety of educational program schedules and instructive methodologies, as well as dual-degree options such as MD/MBA and MD/MPH. A 3.0 GPA, demonstration of premedical education history, MCAT scores, and letters of recommendation are common admission requirements.</p>