Why This Matters to Minnesota
Communities, individuals and health systems across Minnesota depend on the University's strong medical and health sciences training, research and patient care
Why This Matters: Minnesota's Healthcare Workforce
The University of Minnesota trains 70% of Minnesota's health care professionals, including 70% of physicians, 60% of pharmacists, 73% of dentists, 69% of public health professionals and 70% of doctors of veterinary medicine. We also have the second largest full-time Doctor of Nursing Practice program in the country. Over 3500 health professionals, students and learners are trained each year.
Health systems across Minnesota depend on the University to teach and train the future healthcare professionals of our state. Our students across all health professions learn, work, and collaborate together. Our graduates go on to better their communities, heal both animal and human patients, and develop life-changing treatments and cures.
We are among the top schools for the most graduates practicing in rural areas—and have recently expanded this focus through our CentraCare Regional Campus in St. Cloud.
Why This Matters: Medical Advances
The University of Minnesota is home to researchers who improve health and save lives. From breakthrough to development, concept to clinical trial, we have the expertise to tackle complex health problems that cannot be solved from one perspective alone. With our legacy of innovation in academic health, we are driven to meet the diverse health needs of Minnesota and beyond.
- We are finding better and faster ways to translate our laboratory research into clinical trials for patients—often the only path to new treatments and cures.
- We have 887 active clinical trials across a range of conditions and diseases, many aimed at finding new treatments that will improve patient care, improve wellbeing and extend lives.
- We also collaborate with industry partners to advance life-changing innovations and discoveries that contribute to people’s health in Minnesota and around the globe.
Learn more about health sciences research
Why This Matters: Patient Care
The University of Minnesota provides care based on current research and cutting-edge technologies. Innovations in patient care happen in academic settings, where groundbreaking work by dentists, nurses, pharmacists, physicians, veterinarians and other health professionals is redefining health care.
- We serve over 1 million patients—including Minnesotans from all 87 counties.
- The University is a destination for clinical care, with more than 3,250 providers across 100 medical and surgical specialties.
Learn more about the University's full range of healthcare services for adults, children, and animals
Our Medical School and Schools of Health Sciences —
Essential Minnesota Assets
The University of Minnesota Health Sciences together are one of Minnesota's most precious, vital and essential assets—delivering medical education, clinical care and research discovery—that cultivates a healthier future for all of Minnesota. This includes medicine, dentistry, veterinarian medicine, nursing, pharmacy, public health, and more.
The Benefits to Minnesota
Learn more about the University of Minnesota Health Sciences
Overview of the University of Minnesota Medical School
For more than 135 years, the University of Minnesota Medical School has been at the center of medical education, scientific discovery, and giving patients innovative and compassionate care. As one of the nation’s largest medical schools, it spans three campuses—Twin Cities, Duluth, and St. Cloud—all operating under one school and one shared curriculum. Each campus plays a strategic role in training future physicians, strengthening Minnesota’s healthcare workforce, and advancing discovery that improves the health of all Minnesotans.
The Medical School fulfills a three-part mission:
Education
With close to 1100 students across MD, dual-degree, PhD and specialized programs, the medical school prepares the next generation of physicians and scientists. Students learn through a combination of classroom instruction, early clinical exposure, hands-on clerkships, and advanced specialty rotations across Minnesota’s major health systems.
The Medical School is 1 of the University’s 6 health science schools (includes: nursing, veterinary medicine, dentistry, public health and pharmacy). There are only 4 other schools in the United States that have all health sciences in the same institution. The University of Minnesota has many programs that support interprofessional education opportunities for our students, as well as research partnerships and pipeline programs.
Research
The Medical School is a leading research institution, securing more than $354 million in sponsored research funding in fiscal year 2025. Faculty and research teams pursue breakthroughs across basic science, clinical research, and translational medicine—turning scientific discoveries into real-world solutions.
Patient Care
Faculty physicians practice statewide, providing care at many health systems including M Health Fairview, Hennepin Healthcare, HealthPartners (including Regions and Tria), North Memorial, the Veterans Administration, CentraCare, Essentia Health, Aspirus network and many rural healthcare sites.
Students and residents learn in many of these clinical environments, gaining experience that equips them to serve diverse communities.
Together, these missions ensure that the University of Minnesota Medical School continues to deliver exceptional education, drive innovation, and improve the health of all Minnesotans.