The western U.S. state of Nevada is well-known for its thriving entertainment sector, beautiful desert scenery, and thriving cities like Reno and Las Vegas. Despite the state’s image as a tourist hotspot, its healthcare system is constantly changing to accommodate its diverse population. Until recently, Nevada only had one option for those who wanted to continue their education and become physicians. Fortunately, two medical schools in Nevada opened not so long ago.
This vibrant state added another public medical school and a private medical school that grants D.O. degrees, which makes it perfect for both resident and non-resident applicants. These institutions will undoubtedly impact healthcare teaching and delivery in the future. Through the contributions of universities such as UNLV School of Medicine, UNR Med, and Touro University Nevada, it is poised to address its residents’ healthcare needs and make significant strides in advancing health outcomes and medical education in the state.
That’s why this article will discuss the medical schools above so you can choose which suits you best. We recommend you to read carefully to learn more!
Top Medical Schools in Nevada
1. University of Nevada, Reno
We start the list with Nevada’s oldest medical school. Founded in 1969, the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine was the first and, for a long time, the only public medical institution in Nevada. UNR has now 50 years of experience in the medical field. This can be seen in its ample degree offer, up-to-date curriculums, modern facilities, and quality physicians.
The M.D. program divides the curriculum into a pre-clinical phase and a clerkship phase. The first two years consist of learning sciences, anatomy, and all their medicine-related aspects through an organ-system-based curriculum. Students will be exposed to clinical experiences during the first year, and they will have practices in laboratories with cadavers and simulators. The last two years consist of clerkships, which can be completed in the affiliated centers in Nevada.
This medical school has many degree programs. Dual degree programs include M.D./Ph.D., M.D./MPH (Master’s in Public Health), and M.D./MBA (Master’s in Business Administration). The last two are meant to be completed in five years. There are also master’s and Ph.D. programs in physician assistant studies, biochemistry, and more. There’s also a B.S./M.D. program for high school students.
Admitted students start by completing their bachelor’s degree and then move into the M.D. program. However, there are strict requirements to stay in the program, like maintaining a GPA of at least 3.5 or obtaining good scores on the MCAT. Admissions are made through AMCAS, and applicants must submit letters of recommendation, complete the pre-medical courses, and take the MCAT.
Students are also required to take the CASPer Situational Judgment Test. The class size at Reno School of Medicine is small. In 2017, there were 1,267 applicants, but only 70 enrolled. They prioritize admittance for resident students. Only 10% of students admitted in 2017 were out-of-state. If you’d like to become a medical student here, look at their website to learn more!
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2. Touro University – Nevada
Touro University has a campus in Nevada, where the College of Osteopathic Medicine, or TUNCOM, is the second and largest medical school to open in the state. It was founded in 2004 and grants D.O. degrees. The D.O. curriculum is divided into a pre-clinical phase and a clinical phase. The program focuses on anatomy, organ systems, clinical reasoning, and behavioral medicine during the first two years.
Lectures, laboratory practices, and early clinical experiences in the second year teach these aspects. Students also learn the principles and skills related to osteopathic medicine. Students must complete their mandatory and elective clerkships in the last two years. In addition to the D.O. program, TUNCOM also offers a Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) and a Master of Medical Health Sciences (MHS). They have also designed a Geriatric Medicine Fellowship for those who have finished their residency.
This medical school also shares the campus with the College of Health and Human Services, which offers other degree programs. For example, they have a Master of Education and a Master of Occupational Therapy. They also have different centers where students can get clinical experience. These include the Active Aging Center, Touro Health Center, the Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities, and the Physical Therapy Clinic.
If you want to apply to this medical school in Nevada, applications are made through the AACOMAS platform. Students must take the MCAT, complete the mandatory pre-medical courses, and submit letters of recommendation and any other proof of previous experience in the medical field, leadership skills, or commitment to the community. Applicants compete for around over a hundred places yearly. TUNCOM holds Open House events and tours each year. This way, prospective students can get to know the facilities better and learn more from the staff.
3. University of Nevada, Las Vegas
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Medicine is Nevada’s most recently opened medical school. It was founded in 2014, and its first class was enrolled in 2017. This medical institution has an innovative curriculum and highly technological facilities. The M.D. program focuses on the community. During the first year, students start their education with a six-week course to obtain an Emergency Medical Technician or EMT certification.
The first two years’ curriculum is organ-system-based and mixes science with problem-solving classes and clinical cases. Instead of working with cadavers, students will learn in 3D interactive laboratories, which is why class groups are very small. Additionally, they take courses like virtual anatomy and microscopy. Before the third and fourth years, students are exposed to early clinical experiences and have the opportunity to participate in community service.
Their main teaching hospital is the University Medical Center (UMC), but they are also affiliated with other centers. Some are the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System, the Mike O’Callahan Military Medical Center, and the Sunrise Medical Center. Once you finish the four-year program, UNLV School of Medicine has excellent residency and fellowship programs. These include emergency, family, or internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, plastic surgery, and otolaryngology.
The admissions process here is similar to the one mentioned above. If you are worried about your budget, they have many scholarship opportunities. The charter class got a four-year full-tuition scholarship, and thanks to donations, 40% of the students in the following entering classes until 2020 will also get a full-tuition scholarship.
As we mentioned, this medical school in Nevada focuses on the community. Its goal is for physicians to be educated here to practice in Nevada. It prioritizes resident applicants and only considers out-of-state students if they have strong ties with Nevada. Out of the 60 students admitted in 2017, only nine were out-of-state.
Read More: 10 Steps to Become a Doctor in the United States
While Nevada is undoubtedly known for being a lively city with its famous entertainment establishments and gorgeous scenery, it doesn’t lag behind other states in providing medical education to students. Medical schools like the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Touro University, and the University of Nevada, Reno, can offer different high-quality medical degrees to local and international learners with their cutting-edge facilities and advanced research.
We hope this article on the best medical schools in Nevada was helpful. To learn more information on studying in the United States, feel free to check out our Study in the USA and the Available Programs for International Students in the USA!
