UCLA School of Medicine

We are a diverse and collaborative community of innovators, educators, healthcare providers, and life-long learners. We are also committed to creating world leaders in health and biosciences, discovering the basis for health and cures for disease, o ring the basis for health and cures for disease, optimizing health through community partnerships, and healing humankind one patient at a time. Our vision is to enable people to live their longest, healthiest lives through our commitment to our mission. Our mission is to deliver leading-edge patient care, research, education, and community engagement. Defining moments in a medical school’s timeline reveal its mission, innovations, and impact on healthcare. From our founding, rooted in a commitment to addressing unmet medical needs, to pioneering research breakthroughs and curriculum advancements, each milestone shapes our identity and legacy. The medical school’s first graduating class, the addition of specialized training programs, and the development of cutting-edge technology all mark the transformative stages in our growth. These defining moments not only reflect the medical school’s journey, but also highlight our enduring influence in preparing skilled, compassionate healthcare professionals to meet the challenges of tomorrow. As we celebrate 70 years of excellence, we invited members of our community to share their personal stories about what the medical school means to them and what continues to inspire them today. Don't miss this powerful video that highlights the impact and legacy of our medical school - watch and be inspired by these incredible journeys. Stafford L. Warren, M.D., appointed first dean of the medical school. A former colonel in the United States Army Medical Corps and chief of the Manhattan Project’s medical section and a radiologist by training, Dr. Warren is credited with the discovery of a breast imaging technique that led to the invention of the mammogram. The medical school establishes the first willed-body program in the world, allowing people to leave their bodies to science upon dying for research purposes. Classes begin on Sept. 20 for the medical school’s first students—two women and 26 men—taught by 15 faculty members. Four-year attendance cost $10,000. Since it took several years to build the new school, scientists conduct research in wartime Quonset huts scattered across campus. ...view more