A collaborative model that extends beyond the Quad
At Harvard Medical School, the Faculty of Medicine includes more than 12,000 faculty dedicated to advancing biomedical knowledge, improving health, and educating and training the next generation of leading physicians and researchers.
The School’s historic quadrangle (“the Quad”) in the heart of Boston’s Longwood Medical Area is home to nearly 200 tenured and tenure-track faculty in our basic and social science departments, as well as classrooms and core research facilities. Here, medical students, master’s and PhD students, and postdoctoral researchers spend their foundational years immersed in rigorous study and mentorship.
Our teaching and research extend well beyond the Quad. Unlike most medical schools, HMS does not own or operate hospitals. Instead, we work through longstanding affiliation agreements with an acclaimed group of independent hospitals and research institutes — 15 of the world’s most prestigious centers for patient care, biomedical research, health care innovation, and clinical education.
Widely regarded as a global leader in health care, life sciences, and technological innovation, Boston and its surroundings offer Harvard Medical School students, trainees, and researchers unparalleled access to groundbreaking discoveries, renowned hospitals, and a vibrant community at the forefront of medicine.
An ecosystem of excellence
Our affiliated hospitals and research institutes are vital collaborators, providing clinical care for diverse patient populations and serving as the primary sites for clinical training and clinical research. These institutions, which maintain their own governance and administration, are the professional home and employer for more than 12,000 physicians and scientists who hold academic appointments at Harvard Medical School.
Our students spend much of their clinical training at our affiliated hospitals, learning directly from practicing physicians. Residents and fellows at these hospitals also contribute to the education of medical students, creating a collaborative, intergenerational learning environment.
Together with faculty based on the Quad, this community represents the largest academic medical faculty in the United States, with twice the number as the next largest medical school in the country.
