The University of Virginia School of Medicine, founded in 1827 by Thomas Jefferson, is one of the nation's oldest and most prestigious public medical schools. Located in Charlottesville on Jefferson's Academic Village, UVA SOM offers a research-intensive 4-year MD curriculum with early clinical exposure and strong pathways in biomedical research, global health, and clinical investigation. UVA Health serves as the primary tertiary care and teaching hospital network, with additional training at the Salem VA Medical Center and community health sites across rural central Virginia.
What makes it different
UVA SOM operates within one of the leading academic health systems in the Southeast, with a strong research enterprise spanning cancer, cardiovascular disease, neuroscience, and infectious disease. The school has a historic honor tradition consistent with the broader University of Virginia culture. Training occurs in Charlottesville's integrated health system, providing exposure from rural outreach clinics to high-acuity academic medicine.
Course & teaching
Integrated curriculum. 4-year MD. Year 1–2: Integrated preclinical phase (iClinical) combines basic sciences with patient contact from day one. Year 3–4: Core clinical clerkships at UVA Health with elective and global health opportunities. A scholarly project requirement spans the curriculum for MD students interested in research.
Research strengths
University of Virginia School of Medicine (MD) has notable research strength in Cancer immunotherapy, Cardiovascular genetics, Neurodegenerative disease, Infectious disease and global health, Health equity.
Interview
University of Virginia School of Medicine (MD) interviews via MMI (multiple stations, in-person). UVA SOM uses an MMI format with six to eight stations assessing communication, ethical reasoning, critical thinking, and interpersonal skills. Stations run approximately eight minutes each with two minutes of prep time. The full interview day includes an orientation session, tour of the UVA Health medical campus, and lunch with current medical students. Assessors evaluate each station independently; scores are aggregated and reviewed by the admissions committee.
Intake
Approximately 156 students per year.
At a glance
Founded in 1825, based in Charlottesville, VA. Programmes offered: Cancer Biology, Cardiovascular Medicine, Neuroscience, Infectious Disease, Global Health.