The Ohio State University College of Medicine, founded in 1914, is a flagship public medical school based at the Wexner Medical Center in Columbus. It trains the largest class of any Ohio medical school and is among the most NIH-funded research programs in the Midwest. The college offers a comprehensive MD curriculum with early clinical integration, extensive research opportunities, and dual-degree pathways. Ohio State graduates match broadly across specialties with strong representation in academic medicine, surgery, and primary care.
What makes it different
Ohio State College of Medicine is one of the largest and most research-intensive medical schools in the Midwest, consistently ranked among the top 25 research medical schools by NIH funding. The school operates within the Wexner Medical Center — one of the top 10 NIH-funded academic medical centers in the country. Ohio State offers the MD/PhD (MSTP), MD/MBA, and MD/MPH dual degree programs alongside the standard MD. The college's Buckeye Health Initiative connects students with underserved Columbus communities from Year 1.
Course & teaching
Integrated curriculum. 4-year MD. Years 1–2: Foundations of Clinical Medicine integrates basic science and early patient contact through the Bridges curriculum. Years 3–4: Core clerkships at Wexner Medical Center and affiliated hospitals across Ohio. Research immersion encouraged from Year 1; MSTP track available for MD/PhD. The Buckeye Health Initiative integrates community health service throughout training.
Research strengths
The Ohio State University College of Medicine (MD) has notable research strength in Cancer biology, Cardiovascular disease, Neurodegenerative disorders, Health equity, Infectious disease.
Interview
The Ohio State University College of Medicine (MD) interviews via MMI (multiple stations, typically 8–10, in-person or virtual). Ohio State College of Medicine uses a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format comprising 8–10 stations of approximately 8 minutes each, with 2-minute reading windows. Stations are held at Wexner Medical Center and cover ethical reasoning, communication and role-play, medical knowledge in context, teamwork scenarios, and reflective inquiry. Assessors include faculty physicians, clinicians, standardized patients, and trained community members. The full interview day spans approximately 4–5 hours and includes an admissions information session, student-led Wexner Medical Center tour, and informal time with current MD students. Ohio State's MMI is designed to assess candidates across all four AAMC Core Competency domains.
Intake
Approximately 210 students per year.
At a glance
Founded in 1914, based in Columbus, OH. Programmes offered: Biomedical Research, Oncology, Cardiovascular Medicine, Neuroscience, Primary Care.