Lori Meadows
Howard University College of Medicine was founded in 1868, just three years after the end of the Civil War, to address the healthcare needs of newly freed Black people migrating to Washington, D.C. The college has a long history of training competent and compassionate physicians who serve underserved communities. While Howard University has a mission of diversifying the medical workforce, some have questioned whether the college accepts non-Black students.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| History | The Howard University College of Medicine was created in 1868, three years after the Civil War, in response to the large number of newly freed Black people migrating to Washington, D.C. |
| Mission | To train students to become highly competent, compassionate physicians who would serve underserved communities with a shortage of health personnel. |
| Accreditation | The College of Medicine is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education. Howard University is accredited by the Middle States Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges. |
| Student Body | Howard University has the largest concentration of Black faculty and student scholars in the country. |
| Racial Preference | Howard University has historically been a Black institution, but it accepts people of all races, creeds, and religions. |
| Location | The Howard University College of Medicine is located in a predominantly Black neighbourhood. |
| Academic Requirements | Students must meet the high standards of excellence set by Howard University and undergo a rigorous admissions process, including interviews and technical skills assessments. |
| Criminal Background | Accepted applicants are subject to a Criminal Background Check (CBC) facilitated by the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC). |
| Transfer Students | The College of Medicine does not currently accept transfer students but hopes to return to doing so for the 2024-2025 cycle. |
| International Students | International students are accepted on a limited basis. |
| Degree Programs | The College of Medicine offers Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in anatomy, genetics, human genetics, microbiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, and physiology & biophysics. |
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What You'll Learn
History of Howard University College of Medicine
The Howard University College of Medicine (HUCM) was founded in 1868, just three years after the end of the Civil War. During this time, there was a large influx of newly freed Black people migrating to Washington, D.C. The college was created in response to this population shift, with the aim of training students to become highly competent and compassionate physicians who could meet the overwhelming healthcare needs of Black communities across the country.
HUCM is an academic division of Howard University, which was established as a university in 1867 and named after General Howard, who was regarded as a hero and humanitarian. The university's charter specified several departments, including medicine, and HUCM has since become a leading institution in medical education, particularly for Black students.
For its first 100 years, HUCM, along with Meharry Medical College, trained most of the African American physicians in the country. This was because many predominantly white institutions refused to accept Black students. HUCM has consistently graduated the most Black physicians every year nationwide and continues to produce a sizable share of African American physicians practicing in the United States.
HUCM offers six training programs leading to Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in anatomy, genetics and human genetics, microbiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, and physiology and biophysics. The college is located at the Howard University Health Sciences Center in Washington, D.C., and its primary teaching hospital is the Howard University Hospital.
HUCM has a long history of serving underserved communities and has been at the forefront of testing and vaccination efforts across the District of Columbia, earning recognition from the federal government. The college has also engaged in international humanitarian projects, such as a medical project in Haiti in response to the 2010 earthquake.
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Application process and requirements
The Howard University College of Medicine was established in 1868, three years after the end of the Civil War. At the time, a large number of newly freed Black people were migrating to Washington, D.C. The College was created to address the overwhelming healthcare needs of this population and other Black communities across the country.
Today, the College continues to be a leader in medical education, graduating the most Black physicians every year nationwide. It has the largest concentration of Black faculty and student scholars in the country. The College is committed to training physicians of all races, ethnic groups, religions, and nationalities.
The Howard University College of Medicine offers six training programs leading to a Master of Science and/or Doctor of Philosophy degree. These degrees are offered in anatomy, genetics and human genetics, microbiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, and physiology and biophysics. The College also offers dual degree programs jointly with the Graduate School (MD/Ph.D.), the College of Arts & Sciences (BS/MD), and the School of Business (MD/MBA).
Admission into any of the dual M.D. degree programs and the regular M.D. degree is highly competitive. Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee an interview or admission.
Requirements
- Prospective students must have earned 71 semester hours or the equivalent in an accredited US or Canadian college or university.
- Humanities Courses (6 semester hours) – includes additional English coursework, Languages, Art, Music, History, Philosophy, Religion, etc.
- A minimum science GPA of 3.25 and a minimum overall GPA of 3.5 are required for the BS/MD program.
- All applicants are required to take the MCAT. Only MCAT scores from the last 3 years prior to matriculation will be considered.
- All applicants must take the PREview exam, which measures applicants' knowledge of effective and ineffective behaviours related to core pre-professional competencies.
- All applicants must use the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) application.
- All applicants will be subject to a Criminal Background Check (CBC) through the AMCAS facilitated CBC of the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC). Additionally, a second background check and drug screening must be satisfactorily passed before the junior year of study.
- For the MD/MBA program, students must meet the criteria for admission to the MBA program, successfully complete the first two years in medical school, and pass Step 1 of the USMLE.
The Howard University College of Medicine hosts a FIRST FRIDAY OPEN HOUSE on the first Friday of each month between August and April (except holidays). A presentation and question-and-answer session start at 12:00 pm, followed by a tour of the medical school at 12:45 pm.
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Racial diversity and inclusion
The Howard University College of Medicine was founded in 1868, three years after the end of the Civil War. At the time, large numbers of newly freed Black people were migrating to Washington, D.C. The college was established to address the overwhelming healthcare needs of this population and other Black communities across the country. Howard University is committed to training students to become highly competent, compassionate physicians who can deliver care in underserved communities facing a shortage of health personnel.
Howard University College of Medicine has the largest concentration of Black faculty and student scholars in the country. While the university was created to serve the needs of the Black community, it accepts people of all races, creeds, and religions. However, some people have expressed concerns about the university giving preference to one race over another.
To address these disparities, medical schools must create inclusive student communities and ensure that future doctors are equipped to care for diverse populations. Strategies for improving diversity and inclusion in medical schools include shifting from an applicant-deficit lens to a system-deficit lens, educating admissions committees about unconscious bias, and enhancing efforts to measure and improve inclusivity in clinical learning environments.
Additionally, addressing embedded processes and structures of institutional racism is crucial for increasing diversity in admissions and advancing racial justice in healthcare institutions. This includes removing inequitable incentive structures, reforming funding streams, and changing internal admissions processes that favor a predominantly White status quo. By partnering with students and collaborating with other institutions, medical schools can work towards positive and sustainable change in diversity and inclusion.
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Academic programs and degrees offered
Howard University College of Medicine offers a range of academic programs and degrees designed to prepare students for careers in medicine and to serve underserved communities, particularly from the Black community, and continues to be a leader in graduating Black physicians each year.
The college offers the Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree, which is its primary medical program. The MD program follows an integrated curriculum, where students complete curriculum blocks in their first year covering subjects such as Molecules and Cells, Structure and Function, and Population Health. In their second year, they study pathophysiology, pathology, and pharmacology, with subjects integrated according to organ systems.
Howard University College of Medicine also offers dual-degree programs:
- MD/PhD, offered jointly with the Graduate School
- BS/MD, offered with the College of Arts and Sciences, allowing students to complete both degrees in six years instead of the usual eight
- MD/MBA, offered with the School of Business
Additionally, the college provides six training programs leading to a Master of Science and/or Doctor of Philosophy degree. These degrees are offered in the following areas:
- Anatomy
- Genetics and Human Genetics
- Microbiology
- Biochemistry
- Pharmacology
- Physiology and Biophysics
The college also includes the Howard University Hospital, the College of Dentistry, the College of Pharmacy, Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, the Louis Stokes Health Sciences Library, and the Student Health Center, providing a comprehensive health sciences education and training environment.
Howard University College of Medicine is committed to providing an inclusive and supportive learning environment, with small group settings, case-based and team-based exercises, simulations, and state-of-the-art clinical skills centres to enhance the student experience and prepare competent and compassionate physicians.
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The college's impact and achievements
The Howard University College of Medicine has had a significant and lasting impact on medical education and practice, particularly in relation to serving underserved communities and addressing healthcare disparities. The college was founded in 1868, just three years after the Civil War, in response to the growing population of newly freed Black people migrating to Washington, D.C. At that time, most medical schools were still predominantly white and did not accept Black students. Howard filled this gap by providing a medical education to students of all races, with a particular focus on serving the Black community.
Throughout its history, Howard University College of Medicine has remained committed to its mission of training competent and compassionate physicians who serve in communities with a shortage of healthcare personnel. The college has produced a significant number of the nation's minority physicians, including the most Black physicians every year nationwide. Howard's alumni and faculty have an illustrious record of service and continue to make an impact in various medical fields, such as interventional cardiology, colorectal surgery, infectious diseases, and microbiology.
The college offers six training programs leading to Master of Science and/or Doctor of Philosophy degrees in anatomy, genetics and human genetics, microbiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, and physiology and biophysics. It also offers a four-year M.D. program, which is the largest training program in the college. Howard's emphasis on providing healthcare to underserved communities means that its students gain valuable experience at Howard University Hospital, the primary teaching hospital for the school, as well as other hospitals in the D.C. area.
In addition to its academic programs, Howard University College of Medicine has been at the forefront of various initiatives and projects. The college was actively involved in testing and vaccination efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, earning recognition from the federal government. Additionally, the college participated in a humanitarian response to the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, sending a team of physicians from various departments to provide medical assistance.
The college's impact extends beyond its immediate community. With more than 4,000 living alumni, Howard has produced a sizeable share of African-American physicians practicing in the United States. The college's commitment to addressing healthcare disparities and serving underserved communities has had a lasting impact on the medical field, ensuring that competent and compassionate care reaches those who need it most.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Howard University College of Medicine accepts non-Black students. The college was founded in 1868 to address the healthcare needs of newly freed Black people migrating to Washington, D.C. in the post-Civil War era. While the college has a historical focus on serving the Black community, it does not exclusively accept Black students.
To be admitted to Howard University College of Medicine, students must meet certain requirements, including a minimum science GPA of 3.25, a minimum overall GPA of 3.5, and a minimum total MCAT score of 504. Additionally, applicants must participate in an interview and provide supportive letters of recommendation. All applicants must also pass a criminal background check and a drug screening prior to matriculation.
The mission of Howard University College of Medicine is to provide students with a medical education of exceptional quality, preparing them to serve underserved communities with compassion and competence. The college emphasizes addressing healthcare disparities and improving the health of Americans and the global community through public health training programs and initiatives.
