Ivy League medical school founded 1811, re-established 1972, ranked 14th for primary care and 35th for research.
The Warren Alpert Medical School offers a restructured integrated curriculum emphasizing contemporary medical education. The two-year basic science component (Integrated Medical Sciences I-IV) covers cell biology, biochemistry, immunology, genetics, and systems-based pathophysiology. Clinical training includes the Doctoring course, which focuses on clinical skills and professionalism through physician mentorship. The Scholarly Concentrations Program allows students to pursue independent scholarship in cross-disciplinary fields including global health, medical ethics, health policy, and medical technology. Combined degree programs (MD/PhD, MD/MPH, MD/MPP, MD-MSc) are offered through Brown's graduate and professional schools.
Alpert enrolls approximately 144 students per class through multiple pathways: standard AMCAS route, the 8-year Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME), and linkage programs. In 2016, the school received 6,374 AMCAS applications and interviewed 370 candidates for 90 spots. The 2016 matriculating class had an average GPA of 3.8 and MCAT score of 514. The PLME program is highly selective, accepting only 90 students annually with an acceptance rate of approximately 3.47% (2020). Approximately 30% of the entering class comes from PLME and linkage programs.
The Division of Biology and Medicine generates $300 million in external research funding annually. The Sidney Frank Hall for Life Sciences (opened 2006) is a 168,800-square-foot complex housing research spaces and administrative offices. The school operates eight affiliated teaching hospitals including Rhode Island Hospital, Hasbro Children's Hospital, Women & Infants Hospital, and Butler Hospital, all within a 15-minute drive of campus. The Brown University Laboratories for Molecular Medicine serve as a core research facility.
The Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME), established in 1984, combines Brown's open undergraduate curriculum with the medical school's competency-based approach, allowing students to pursue interests in humanities and social sciences while preparing for medicine. The Primary Care–Population Medicine program offers an integrated MD-MSc dual degree. The Early Identification Program (since 1976) recruits Rhode Island residents and underrepresented minorities. The school also offers visiting medical student programs and international exchange opportunities.