May 27, 2009

Drexel University College of Medicine has been ranked 16th in women’s health, according to U.S. News & World Report's newest edition of medical school rankings. Drexel came in 16th out of 146 medical schools in the women’s health specialty. The specialty rankings were based on ratings by deans and senior faculty from the country’s medical schools. 

The College of Medicine has long been highly respected in the area of women’s health. Our predecessor institution, Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania, was the very first degree-granting medical school for women in the world, founded in 1850 as the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania.

In 1993, the College established the Institute for Women's Health and Leadership, followed in 1995 by the first endowed chair for women’s health in the nation. In 1996, the College was designated as a National Center of Excellence in Women’s Health by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – one of only six in the country.

That same year, our clinical practice, the Drexel Center for Women’s Health, opened its doors. The physicians at the center provide comprehensive, compassionate care with a deep understanding of the specific healthcare needs of women, focusing on prevention and early intervention.

In 2005, our Center of Excellence in Women’s Health was one of three to receive the additional designation “Ambassador for Change”, with funding to serve as a role model and clearinghouse for new and developing Centers of Excellence in Women’s Health.

In addition, our Women's Health Education Program seeks to improve the healthcare of women by developing and implementing a curriculum that teaches medical students, postgraduate trainees, physicians and other caregivers the knowledge, skills and attitudes required to maintain women’s health through disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment. The program translates new scientific findings about women’s health into educational opportunities. At each level of activity – lectures, workshops, seminar series, women’s health-themed days, participation in health fairs – our medical students are involved, making women’s health a vibrant, relevant aspect of their education.

We are also very proud of our Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) program for women. Established in 1995, ELAM is the nation's only in-depth program focused on preparing senior women faculty at schools of medicine, dentistry, and public health to move into positions of institutional leadership where they can effect positive change. Ninety percent of U.S. medical schools have sent at least one faculty member to the program.