University of Kansas Medical Center

History

The School of Medicine was formed in 1905, with several Kansas City hospitals being combined within the next ten years. In 1947, the campus was renamed to the University of Kansas Medical Center. The campus began expanding its programs over the next forty years, and on February 27, 1990, the hospital performed its first liver transplant.

In 1997, the state of Kansas was struggling to keep the hospital and its medical campus open so the state legislature passed a bill to sell the hospital, and keep the medical campus for schooling.

Since the state separated with the hospital, the Medical Center has turned its focus on cancer. In 2002, the University of Kansas Cancer Center was established, with the help of the Kansas masons. It became a National Cancer Institute-designated in 2012 and became a designated "comprehensive cancer center" in 2022.

Academics

KU Med teaches its courses in both academic buildings, as well as the hospital. KU Med consists of three schools: the School of Medicine, the School of Nursing, and the School of Health Professions. With three campuses spread out in Kansas, the Medical Center employs 5,460 people, with 1,691 of those being teaching faculty. As of fall 2023, the KU Medical Center has 3,886 students enrolled.

As of August 2024, the executive vice chancellor is Steven Stites.

School of Medicine

Main article: University of Kansas School of Medicine

The School of Medicine, which officially began in 1905 by the Kansas Board of Regents in Kansas City, was the only medical school in Kansas until 2022. The school offers seven different degree programs, with the only options as master's program or a doctoral program. The other two campuses are in Wichita, which opened in 1971, and Salina, which opened in 2011.

School of Nursing

The School of Nursing began in 1905, as well. It offers six degrees. The school opened its first satellite campus in Salina in 2017.

School of Health Professions

The School of Health Professions was established in 1974 and offers 25 different programs.

Notable alumni

• Barney S. Graham, NIH virologist, Zika and COVID-19 vaccine specialist
• Jeff Colyer, plastic surgeon and 47th Governor of Kansas
• Paul Randall Harrington, orthopaedic surgeon
• Theodore K. Lawless, dermatologist and philanthropist
• Roger Marshall, US Representative and Senator (2017–present)
• Robert Simari, executive vice chancellor for KU Medical Center (2018–2024)
• Kathryn Stephenson, plastic surgeon
• George Tiller, physician
• Milton R. Wolf, physician
• Barbara Bollier, physician and state Senator

References

References

1. (September 25, 2023). "KUMC: Official Headcount Summary of Enrollment Fall 2019 to Fall 2023".
2. (November 1, 2023). "KUMC: Faculty and Staff Profiles".
3. (December 29, 2015). "KU primary & secondary color palette". University of Kansas.
4. (July 25, 2011). "University of Kansas medical school opens smallest U.S. campus to boost rural care".
5. "KU Medical Center Public Safety".
6. "Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies".
7. "1905-1909".
8. "KU Med's First Liver Patient Leads to a Full Life".
9. "KU Hospital was barely breathing 20 years ago. Here's why it's thriving now".
10. "KU News - Kansas Masonic Cancer Research Institute receives $300,000 for endowed professorship".
11. (July 12, 2012). "University of Kansas Cancer Center gets National Cancer Institute designation".
12. "University of Kansas Cancer Center - NCI Designation".
13. "KU Medical Center Fast Facts".
14. "Steven Stites Chief Health Sciences Officer and Executive Vice Chancellor for KUMC".
15. (2021-12-13). "Kansas’ first osteopathic medical school is recruiting students for next fall".
16. "Degree Programs".
17. (May 29, 2018). "A Campus Grows In Wichita".
18. "History of the School of Medicine".
19. "Academics".
20. "KU School of Nursing to open Salina campus this fall".
21. "About the KU School of Health Professions".
22. "Academic Programs in the School of Health Professions".