Baylor College of Medicine
One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030

With the focus of improving the practice of medicine in northern Texas, a group of dedicated physicians and community members came together to establish the University of Dallas Medical Department, although the University of Dallas was not in existence. After a short time the school realized that what it needed was to be recognized and affiliated with a prominent institution of higher learning. So, three years later in Waco, Texas, an alliance was formed with the Baylor University. By 1943, Baylor College of Medicine opened its doors in its current locale, Houston, Texas, with more than 100 students.

Today, Baylor College of Medicine is of its own entity, with no tie to Baylor University. But, the Texas college is as strong as a nationally ranked college with nationally recognized research programs. Located within Houston's Texas Medical Center, the independent college is the only private medical institution in the greater Southwest area. With nearly 250 students in total, the College is a melting pot of diversity and intellect. Students of Baylor College of Medicine may choose to enroll in 5 programs of study, including a medical school, graduate school, the School of Allied Health Sciences, graduate medical education and an administrative fellowship program. Each area of study is backed by hands-on experience and field work through affiliated hospitals located within the renowned Texas Medical Center. Some leading hospitals and facilities that Baylor College of Medicine works closely with include, but are not limited to, St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, The Menninger Clinic, community health centers, DePelchin Children's Center, Thomas Street AIDS Clinic and The Women's Hospital of Texas.

Giving back to the community through medical services and non-traditional medical initiatives is just another way students are involved and intrigued outside of the classroom at Baylor College of Medicine. While students here can actively participate in a number of philanthropic opportunities, one such program students find rewarding is the Baylor Pediatrics AIDS Initiative. This program offers HIV affected children, from three months to 19 years of age, primary and specialty care. And there are many other programs offered to students at Baylor College of Medicine that are equally as rewarding and beneficial.

Quick facts:

• U.S. News and World Report has ranked Baylor College of Medicine 13th overall among the nation's top medical schools and seventh for primary care.
  


• Baylor College of Medicine has more than 90 research and patient-care centers and units for its students to take advantage of.
  


• Baylor College of Medicine ranked No. two by the National Science Foundation for federal funding for research and development in the biological sciences at universities and colleges around the nation.
  


• Pay no attention to the following myths about Houston, none of them are accurate: It's always unbearably hot, only cowboys live here and the only food outlets are barbecue and Mexican food eateries.