Philadelphia is a place both rich and esteemed in top-quality medical education.
Home to more allopathic (MD) schools than entire states, you’ll find all you need in Pennsylvania’s largest city to help guide you on your way to becoming a doctor.
But Philly is also home to a great osteopathic (DO) medical school and various other 4-year and 2-year schools medical science schools too!
This article picks the best of them. It also looks at all the necessary information (tuition fees, programs, locations, admissions data, etc.) you’ll likely want to know.
As a med student myself, I know how valuable quick overviews like this can be!
Ready to get started? Let’s go.
Best Medical Schools In Philadelphia
There are several allopathic (MD) medical schools in Philadelphia. Each of these offers a 4-year medical degree, giving board licensure as a doctor of medicine.
Data and ranking positions are determined by U.S. News reports, individual medical school data and, if in doubt, my own objective experience.
1. Perelman School of Medicine
The University of Pennsylvania is the oldest and one of the finest medical schools in the US.
Perelman consistently ranks among the top five in US News and World Report’s rankings of research-oriented medical schools and made #9 in the last report.
Its MD Program is a four-year multidisciplinary curriculum comprising six modules organized around three themes: the science of medicine, the technology and practice of medicine, and professionalism and humanism. PSOM students can choose from approximately 150 electives and have one and a half years to explore the possibilities.
In 1985 was established the Biomedical Graduate Studies within the Perelman School of Medicine. It serves as the academic home at the University of Pennsylvania for roughly 700 students pursuing a Ph.D. in the basic biomedical sciences.
BGS consists of more than 600 faculty members across seven Penn schools and several associated institutes including Wistar Institute, Fox Chase Cancer Center, and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
There are eight graduate programs, labeled by the school as “graduate groups,” that lead to a Ph.D. in basic biomedical sciences.
The College offers scholarly awards and need-based scholarships.
The application deadline for Perelman is Oct. 15.
For an in-depth look at student life, check out the video below…
DETAILS
- Name: Perelman School of Medicine
- Phone: 215-898-8001
- Website: med.upenn.edu
2. Sidney Kimmel Medical College – Thomas Jefferson University
Jefferson Medical College – now the Sidney Kimmel Medical College (SKMC) – was founded in 1824.
It offers undergraduate medical education programs and innovative joint programs to more than 1,000 students every year.
Related: Is Sidney Kimmel A Good Medical School? (Major Pros & Cons)
The MD Program has a 3 phases curriculum.
Phase 1 is focused on basic science and foundational clinical science. The second phase is the core clerkship year and offers the students experience at one of their many hospitals. The last phase begins in the spring of the third year, allowing ample time for career exploration and the development of specific skills.
The college also counts on an IDeA Program that invites Princeton University students (no, Princeton doesn’t have a med school) pursuing non-traditional pre-med majors or concentrations to apply for early admission to SKMC.
The application deadline for Kimmel is in mid-November.
The video below shows you more about the school…
DETAILS
- Name: Sidney Kimmel Medical College
- Phone: 215-955-6983
- Website: jefferson.edu/skmc
3. Temple University School of Medicine (Lewis Katz School of Medicine)
Temple University School of Medicine was founded in 1901 as Pennsylvania’s first co-educational medical school.
The school has a spectacular home base in Philadelphia. A 480,000 square-foot medical education and research building that features state-of-the-art facilities and technologies for medical education and research. It offers modern facilities including open research spaces, smart classrooms, and a state-of-the-art 12,000-square-foot clinical skills and robotic simulation center.
On October 13, 2015, Temple’s medical school was officially dedicated as the Lewis Katz School of Medicine – a historic milestone in the school’s history.
Related: Is Temple A Good Medical School? (Major Pros & Cons)
The Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University (LKSOM) confers not only the M.D. (Doctor of Medicine) degree, but it also confers the Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy), M.S. (Master of Science) degrees in biomedical sciences, and a Narrative Medicine Program.
In July 2014, Lewis Katz School of Medicine’s scientists became the first to remove HIV from human cells.
The MD Program follows a 4 years curriculum. The first and the second years are the pre-clerkship, while the third is the core Clinical Clerkships and the fourth is Advanced Clinical Clerkships and Electives.
LKSOM students may be considered for university-based aid, direct unsubsidized loans, Direct GradPLUS loans, and Service Scholarships. To be considered for all possible funding, applicants must complete the FAFSA.
Their application deadline is Dec. 15.
The video below details the student experience at Lewis Katz…
DETAILS
- Name: Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
- Phone: 215-707-4868
- Website: medicine.temple.edu
4. Drexel University College of Medicine
For a more detailed look at this school (and to see if it could be a good fit for you) please see this article: Is Drexel University College Of Medicine Good? (Major Pros & Cons)
Drexel University College of Medicine is the fusion of two medical schools with intertwined histories: Hahnemann Medical College and Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania.
They were two of the earliest medical colleges in the US. Woman’s Medical College was the first medical school for women in the world.
Related: 10 Oldest Medical Schools In The US (Study With The Greats)
U.S. News & World Report ranked it #86 in research, but it offers a full range of degrees:
- MD Program: the College of Medicine is one of the oldest in the country.
- Graduate School: the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies prepares from neuroscience researchers to forensic scientists and has 40 doctoral, master’s, and professionals studies programs.
- Postdoctoral studies: the program provides the next career-building step for a more permanent position in academia, research, or any other field.
- Dual degree programs: offers students an MBA, PhD, or master’s degree while pursuing their MD.
The College of Medicine follows a systems-based curriculum that is graded pass/fail. In the 2017-2018 school year, the MD program transitioned into a curriculum known as “Foundations and Frontiers”. It is designed to train physicians that are adept at navigating the multidisciplinary healthcare system of tomorrow.
The College of Medicine has many programs offering loans, grants, and work opportunities. To be considered for financial aid, students must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The application deadline for Drexel is Dec. 1.
The video below gives you a sneak peek of life at Drexel…
DETAILS
- Name: Drexel University College of Medicine
- Phone: 215-991-8100
- Website: drexel.edu/medicine/
Best Osteopathic Medical Schools In Philadelphia
There is only a single osteopathic (DO) school in Philadelphia. This offers a 4-year medical degree, giving board licensure as a practicing osteopathic physician.
5. PCOM: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
PCOM is one of the nation’s oldest medical schools. It operates several healthcare centers in Philadelphia and an osteopathic care clinic in Suwanee, Georgia. Additionally, PCOM sponsors residency training programs, which train newly graduated physicians.
As a free-standing medical school, it offers only graduate-level training.
The institution offers doctoral degrees in osteopathic medicine (D.O.), pharmacy (PharmD), physical therapy (DPT), and psychology (PsyD) (tuition varies by major).
In addition, master’s degrees are offered in school psychology, public health, organizational development and leadership, forensic medicine, biomedical sciences, and physician assistant studies.
PCOM residency programs include a multi-hospital integrated approach. The total position numbers can vary with program directors’ plans and implementation time frame. It includes:
- Family Medicine
- General Surgery
- Internal Medicine
- Neurosurgery
- Osteopathic Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine
- Ophthalmology
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Otorhinolaryngology
Within the college was established the Center for Chronic Disorders of Aging (CCDA). Its mission is to improve the quality of life for all individuals suffering from age-related chronic diseases and disorders.
The CCDA furthers its mission through an interdisciplinary approach combining scientific research, education, and clinical application into chronic diseases and disorders associated with the aging process.
The video below offers great insight into life as a DO student at PCOM…
DETAILS
- Name: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Phone: 215-871-6100
- Website: pcom.edu
If you found this article useful, you find the following a good read:
- 6 Physician Shadowing Opportunities In Philadelphia!
- 15 Best Opportunities For Hospital Volunteers In Philadelphia!
- Best Pre-Med Schools In Pennsylvania (Costs, Extracurriculars & Admission Info)
- Best Medical Schools In Pennsylvania (Everything You Need To Know)
Born and raised in the UK, Will went into medicine late (31) after a career in journalism. He’s into football (soccer), learned Spanish after 5 years in Spain, and has had his work published all over the web. Read more.