University of New Mexico School of Medicine

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The University of New Mexico School of Medicine is a division of the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The UNM School of Medicine is home to a variety of degree-granting programs, including the only MD program in the state.HistoryThe school was established in 1961 by the Regents of the University of New Mexico. The first class was admitted in 1964 and the school graduated its first class in 1968. The school also received full accreditation by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education that same year. The school uses UNM Hospital as its primary teaching hospital, along with the VA Medical Center located at Kirtland Air Force Base, along with the other hospitals that make up the UNM Hospitals system.In 1994, University administration decided to combine the School of Medicine, along with other programs in Physical and Occupation Therapy, Biochemistry, Medical Laboratory Sciences, and other programs into one entity known as the UNM Health Sciences Center, with the aim of combining the education and research contributions of each of these entities into one. While they may be grouped together on paper, day-to-day operation of each department is somewhat independent of each other.The School TodayMD Program AdmissionsCurrently, the MD program enrolls about 100 new students each academic year, with the total enrollment in the MD program comprising about 2/5ths of the School of Medicine student body. Because the school is supported with state money, primary admissions preference is given to New Mexico residents. Secondary preference is given to applicants from other Western states that do not have a medical school, such as Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana, as well as applicants from all other states. As is the case with virtually all other medical schools in the United States, admission is very competitive.