Why does Harvard need a medical school when there are already so many in the country?

Question

I've been looking into different medical schools for my future plans, and I keep seeing Harvard at the top of rankings and in conversations. It got me wondering why Harvard even needs its own med school considering there are already a bunch of medical schools in the U.S., a lot of which are pretty highly ranked too.

Is it just about prestige or do they have something unique to offer that other schools don’t? Also, does the presence of Harvard Medical School somehow benefit undergrads or the university as a whole? Just genuinely curious why it's so important for such an old university to maintain its own med school when the field is so crowded.

Accepted Answer

Harvard’s medical school exists for a few key reasons that go beyond just adding another name to the long list of U.S. med schools. First, major research universities like Harvard often create professional schools—like law, medicine, and business—as a way to drive research, innovation, and teaching across the entire university. Harvard Medical School (HMS) isn’t just about training doctors. It's a powerhouse for medical research, often leading breakthroughs in fields like genetics, immunology, and public health. For example, the discovery of how certain genes affect heart disease risk came out of HMS-affiliated labs, influencing both research and patient care worldwide.

Besides research, HMS is closely linked with world-class hospitals in Boston, such as Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital. Having an elite med school strengthens those partnerships, attracting talent and resources that might otherwise go to other institutions. These relationships help Harvard stay at the cutting edge of medical knowledge and practice.

For undergraduates, the benefits might not be obvious, but they’re real. Harvard College students get access to research opportunities, internships, and shadowing programs at HMS and its affiliated hospitals. This can be a huge advantage for pre-med students or anyone interested in biological sciences or healthcare. If you’re a biology major at Harvard, you might be able to work in a lab at the med school or take part in joint initiatives between the college and HMS.

Prestige does play a part, but it’s closely tied to the resources, connections, and intellectual environment HMS provides. The university as a whole gains from the medical school's reputation, as it attracts top faculty, students, and funding—fostering a cycle where all parts of Harvard benefit from each other’s strengths. So, maintaining a medical school is both a tradition and a strategic move that affects research, clinical care, undergraduate education, and the global reputation of the university.