Tufts School of Medicine

In the heart of Boston, Tufts School of Medicine has witnessed countless medical breakthroughs and trained generations of healers. Tufts School of Medicine opened its doors in 1893. It started as the Medical School of Tufts College. The school’s founders were seven faculty members who left the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Boston. These “original seven” envisioned a new medical school under Tufts College. They succeeded, and Tufts School of Medicine began its journey with eighty students. From the outset, Tufts School of Medicine embraced coeducation. In its very first graduating class of twenty-two students, eight were women. One of these pioneering women was Josefa Zaratt, the first African-American woman to graduate from Tufts Medical School in 1905. Her story is a testament to the school’s commitment to diversity and inclusion from its early days. Tufts School of Medicine’s connection with Tufts Medical Center is a cornerstone of its history. The medical center emerged in 1930 from a partnership between the Boston Dispensary, the Boston Floating Hospital for Children, and Tufts College. In 1950, both the Medical School and Dental School moved to Harrison Avenue. This move solidified the New England Medical Center’s role as the primary teaching hospital for Tufts School of Medicine. The school’s commitment to community health is evident in its establishment of the Columbia Point Health Center in 1965. This was the nation’s first community health center. It provided much-needed medical services to underserved populations in Boston and later, in Mississippi. Tufts School of Medicine also maintains strong ties with hospitals and medical centers throughout Massachusetts and Maine. These affiliations allow students to gain diverse clinical experiences. These partnerships also contribute to cutting-edge research and advancements in healthcare.