Best Colleges for Surgeons: List of Top Medical Schools

Surgical programs at the country's top medical schools prepare students for careers as general surgeons or as surgeons in specialized fields. Learn the rankings, program details and other facts about some of the nation's leading colleges for surgeons.

School Overviews

Two of the best places to pursue surgical training in the U.S. are Johns Hopkins University and Columbia University. Both schools offer four years of medical education and clerkship as well as postgraduate residencies and fellowships. Students can seek training in several surgical specialties at both universities. Continue reading to learn more.

Universities with Top Surgical Programs

1. Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD

Ranked as the medical school with the top internal medicine program in the country by U.S. News & World Report, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine offers a 4-year program in surgical education. Basic courses during the first and second years are graded as simply pass or fail, and in the spring of year two surgery students begin a 7-week clerkship. Beyond the four years of instruction, John Hopkins offers residency programs for postgraduate years 3-5 and fellowship rotations, which may include acute care, cardiothoracic, critical care, pediatric, plastic, transplantation and vascular surgeries. Hospital rotations for clerkships, residency and fellowships may be assigned to any of Johns Hopkins affiliated hospitals or medical centers, such as the University of Maryland Hospital, Union Memorial Hospital and Raymond M. Curtis Hand Rehabilitation Center, among others; the location depends upon the subspecialty assigned.

2. Columbia University in New York, NY

Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons ranks ninth on U.S. News and World Reports 2010 list of medical schools with the best internal medicine programs. Students admitted into the surgical program may have the opportunity to research and study in 25 surgical specialties, including general surgery, various transplantation specialties, pediatric surgery and specific organ fields. Students rotate amongst seven affiliated hospitals and medical centers, such as Harlem Hospital, Stamford Hospital, Dartmouth Medical Center and Bassett Healthcare, a rural health center. Students can also gain experience working at Columbia University's teaching hospital, New York Presbyterian Hospital. The M.D. program covers four years of study and practice, including a 5-week clinical clerkship in surgery, with six available subspecialties; this occurs during the third year.