Your dream career begins at WashU Medicine.
No academic medical center is better positioned to help you change the world as a leader in medicine, science, education and advocacy. Our Gateway Curriculum integrates basic science, clinical skills, health systems science, social and behavioral science, and professional identity formation. It’s our foundation for training exceptional physicians like you.
Mission-driven career development
The Gateway Curriculum’s EXPLORE component uniquely allows you to examine your career goals, immerse yourself in areas of interest and work with a mentor to go deep into a project in pursuit of your passion. You’ll choose from four academic pathways to become a well-rounded, purpose-driven, compassionate physician, regardless of specialty.
Discover how to help solve health challenges in resource-limited settings globally and locally.
Gain knowledge, skills and experience in curriculum design, program evaluation, assessment and teaching.
Pair ideation, valuation and implementation with excellent clinical skills to create advances in medicine such as developing a product or changing a system.
World-class research institution
As #2 in NIH funding for research, WashU Medicine is among the nation’s most dynamic and robust research institutions. As a medical student, you’ll have opportunities to work with world-renowned faculty on research projects in almost any area of interest, from personalized medicine to cancer, neuroscience and more. Though research is not required, 95% of our medical students — most of whom are preparing for specialties in clinical practice — complete a research project while working on their MD.
Early clinical experience
Every day, our physicians, scientists and students work across fields to build new discoveries into better care. Beginning in Phase 1, you’ll play an integral role in hands-on patient care and learn from some of the brightest minds in medicine as you rotate among inpatient, ambulatory/ED (outpatient clinics and emergency departments) and procedural settings. We treat patients and provide clinical training primarily at Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children’s hospitals, both ranked among the nation’s best hospitals and recognized for excellence in care.
Customized education
At WashU Medicine, you’ll have limitless opportunities to design the education and career you want. Customize your journey through coach-led career discovery, EXPLORE pathways, early clinical immersions, abundant and diverse research experiences, and dual-degree programs including public health, business administration and more.
In Phase 3, you‘ll choose from a wide variety of electives, including advanced clinical rotations, integrated science courses, research time, away rotations and our capstone course. By exploring a variety of possibilities within a framework that ensures you meet our Gateway requirements, you can feel confident building your unique career as a leader in medicine.
Individualized coaching and mentorship
Mentorship and collaboration are core values of WashU Medicine, at every level. The Gateway Coaching Program matches you with a faculty coach and a cohort of eight peers, with whom you’ll meet weekly to synthesize curriculum, build relationships and explore your personal journeys. Along the way, you’ll also find faculty mentors by specialty, research and other interests. From your first days on campus, our atmosphere of support helps you develop your professional identities and pursue your career goals.
Public and global health
Health is determined, in part, by where people live, work, learn and play. To deliver effective care, physicians must deeply understand these social determinants of health. WashU Medicine equips you to navigate complex health care systems by integrating community-based learning on health equity locally and globally throughout all three phases of the Gateway Curriculum. To dive even deeper, you can pursue the Advocacy & Global Health pathway and other international learning opportunities.
Evidence-based principles
The Gateway Curriculum is competency-based, outcomes-oriented and integrated. Explore our curriculum’s evidence-based guiding principles.