The University of Colorado School of Medicine, located at the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, is the only public medical school in Colorado and one of the largest research medical schools in the Rocky Mountain region. Founded in 1883, the school is affiliated with UCHealth, Children's Hospital Colorado, and the Denver VA Medical Center. CU Med is a major NIH-funded research institution with particular strengths in cancer biology, cardiology, paediatrics, and high-altitude physiology.
What makes it different
CU Med benefits from the Anschutz Medical Campus, one of the largest academic medical center complexes in the Western US. The school has a nationally recognized high-altitude medicine program, uniquely positioned given Colorado's geography. Rural medicine tracks offer training in Western frontier communities with limited physician access. Children's Hospital Colorado affiliation provides extraordinary paediatric training opportunities.
Course & teaching
Integrated curriculum. 4-year MD. The Foundations of Medicine block (Year 1) integrates basic science with clinical context. Year 2: advanced organ-system blocks. Years 3–4: core clinical rotations at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, Children's Hospital Colorado, Denver Health, Denver VA, and affiliated rural sites. Scholarly concentration available in several tracks including global health, rural medicine, and research.
Research strengths
CU Anschutz Medical Campus (MD) has notable research strength in Cancer biology and oncology, Cardiovascular disease, Paediatric medicine, High-altitude physiology, Infectious disease.
Interview
CU Anschutz Medical Campus (MD) interviews via MMI (8 stations, in person at the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora). CU School of Medicine runs an 8-station MMI at the Anschutz Medical Campus, with each station lasting approximately 8 minutes. Stations assess ethical reasoning, communication, professionalism, and health-systems thinking, often framed in the context of Rocky Mountain and rural Western US healthcare challenges. Applicants receive a brief written prompt outside each door before entering. The interview day includes a campus tour of the Anschutz Medical Campus, an informational session from admissions, and informal time with current students.
Intake
Approximately 182 students per year.
At a glance
Founded in 1883, based in Aurora, CO. Programmes offered: Cancer Biology, Cardiology, Paediatrics, High-Altitude Physiology, Rural Medicine.