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Weill Cornell Medicine

Weill Cornell Medicine is the medical school and biomedical research institution of Cornell University, based in New York City and operating an affiliated campus in Qatar.

Last updated October 5, 2026

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Overview

Weill Cornell Medicine is the medical education, biomedical research, and clinical-affiliation organization associated with Cornell University. It is based on Manhattan's Upper East Side and forms part of the NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, one of the major academic medical centers in New York City. Its principal activities include educating physicians and scientists, conducting laboratory and translational research, providing clinical training, and supporting patient care through its hospital and clinical partners. The institution traces its origins to the creation of Cornell University's medical school in 1898. It was initially associated with Cornell University Medical College and later operated under the name Cornell University Medical College before being renamed the Joan and Sanford I. Weill Medical College and Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University in recognition of philanthropic support from Joan and Sanford Weill. The shorter public-facing name Weill Cornell Medical College became widely used, and the institution adopted Weill Cornell Medicine as its principal brand in 2015. Weill Cornell Medicine's educational portfolio includes the Doctor of Medicine degree, graduate biomedical-science education, physician-scientist training, and postgraduate clinical training through residency and fellowship programs. The school also participates in interprofessional and continuing medical education. Its research enterprise spans areas such as cancer, neuroscience, cardiovascular medicine, infectious disease, genomics, immunology, reproductive health, public health, and health-care delivery. Faculty members commonly hold roles across the medical school, its research institutes, and affiliated hospitals. The institution's clinical identity is closely linked to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and the NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. It also maintains academic and clinical relationships with other health-care organizations in the New York metropolitan area. Internationally, Weill Cornell Medicine established Weill Cornell Medicine–Qatar in Doha in partnership with the Qatar Foundation. The Qatar campus became the first U.S. medical school established outside the United States and provides a pre-medical and medical curriculum connected to Cornell's educational and research systems. Weill Cornell Medicine is not a pharmaceutical company and does not primarily market generic medicines. Its brand represents an academic medical institution whose activities center on medical education, scientific discovery, clinical care, and public-health engagement. It is a nonprofit component of Cornell University rather than a separately listed commercial corporation. Its prominence derives from its role in U.S. academic medicine, its hospital affiliations, its research output, and its cross-border medical-education program in Qatar.

History

Weill Cornell Medicine originated in 1898, when Cornell University established a medical school in New York City. The school developed as Cornell University Medical College and became part of the city's expanding network of teaching hospitals and research institutions. Its Manhattan location enabled close relationships with hospitals and clinical services while maintaining Cornell's academic connection. During the twentieth century, the medical college expanded its teaching, laboratory research, and hospital affiliations. The institution became closely associated with what is now NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, helping create an academic medical center in which medical education, scientific investigation, and specialist patient care operated together. Its research and training programs grew across clinical specialties and the biomedical sciences, while graduate education developed alongside the M.D. curriculum. Philanthropy from Joan and Sanford I. Weill supported a major phase of institutional development. In 1998, the medical college was renamed the Joan and Sanford I. Weill Medical College of Cornell University, a name that recognized the Weills' support. The institution subsequently used Weill Cornell Medical College as a shorter name in public communications. The broader academic structure also included the Graduate School of Medical Sciences, which supports advanced training in biomedical research. A major international expansion began through Cornell University's partnership with the Qatar Foundation. Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar was established in Doha and opened its pre-medical program in 2001, followed by the medical program. It was later known as Weill Cornell Medicine–Qatar. The campus created a pathway connected to Cornell's medical curriculum and became a significant part of the institution's international education and research profile. It is widely described as the first American medical school established outside the United States. In 2015, the New York institution adopted the Weill Cornell Medicine name. The change was intended to represent the full scope of the organization, including its medical school, graduate education, research, and clinical affiliations, rather than only its undergraduate medical-college function. The brand is now used across the medical school's educational, scientific, clinical, and public-facing activities. In the twenty-first century, Weill Cornell Medicine has continued to operate as a nonprofit academic medical institution within Cornell University. Its principal activities include M.D. education, graduate biomedical-science training, residency and fellowship programs, laboratory and translational research, clinical collaboration with NewYork-Presbyterian and other partners, and health-related community engagement. Research activity covers a broad range of fields, including cancer, neuroscience, cardiovascular disease, infectious disease, immunology, genomics, reproductive medicine, and population health. The institution's current identity therefore combines the historical Cornell medical school in New York with an international educational presence and a large academic-health-care network.

  • 2017

    Augustine M. K. Choi becomes dean

    [3]

    Augustine M. K. Choi begins serving as dean of Weill Cornell Medicine.

  • 2015

    Brand becomes Weill Cornell Medicine

    [2]

    The New York institution adopts Weill Cornell Medicine as its public-facing name to encompass education, research, and clinical activities.

  • 2002

    Medical program begins in Qatar

    [4]

    Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar begins its medical program, expanding Cornell's medical education outside the United States.

  • 2001

    Qatar pre-medical program opens

    [4]

    The Qatar-based program associated with Cornell's medical education begins its pre-medical offering in Doha.

  • 1998

    Medical college receives the Weill name

    [1]

    The institution is renamed the Joan and Sanford I. Weill Medical College of Cornell University in recognition of philanthropic support.

  • 1898

    Cornell establishes its medical school

    [1]

    Cornell University establishes the medical school that later develops into Weill Cornell Medicine.

Products and positioning

An Ivy League academic medical institution combining physician education, biomedical research, postgraduate training, and affiliated clinical care, with an international medical-school presence in Qatar.

  • Medical education

    Doctor of Medicine program

    The institution's primary physician-training program leads to the M.D. degree and combines foundational biomedical science, clinical instruction, supervised patient care, and opportunities for scholarly or research work. The program is delivered within Cornell's academic environment and is connected to clinical training at affiliated hospitals and medical centers.

  • Biomedical graduate education

    Graduate School of Medical Sciences

    The Graduate School of Medical Sciences provides advanced education and research training in biomedical disciplines. Its programs support laboratory investigation, doctoral and related graduate study, and the development of researchers working across basic, translational, and clinical science.

  • International medical education · 2001

    Weill Cornell Medicine–Qatar

    Weill Cornell Medicine–Qatar is Cornell University's medical-education campus in Doha, established with the Qatar Foundation. It offers pre-medical and medical education linked to Cornell's academic system and supports research and health-related activities in Qatar and the surrounding region.

  • Postgraduate medical training

    Residency and fellowship programs

    Through its hospital and clinical affiliations, Weill Cornell Medicine supports postgraduate training for physicians in numerous specialties and subspecialties. Residents and fellows receive supervised clinical experience alongside academic teaching, research opportunities, and professional development.

  • Medical research

    Biomedical and translational research

    Research programs span laboratory, translational, clinical, and population-health work. Areas represented across the institution include cancer, neuroscience, cardiovascular medicine, infectious disease, immunology, genomics, reproductive health, and health-care delivery.

Brand decisions

  • 2015

    Adoption of the Weill Cornell Medicine brandStrategy

    Background

    The institution sought a public identity that represented its medical school, graduate education, research enterprise, and clinical partnerships together.

    Action taken

    The organization changed its principal public-facing name from Weill Cornell Medical College to Weill Cornell Medicine.

    Aftermath

    The new brand has been used across the New York medical school, its research programs, and related clinical and educational communications.

  • 1998

    Renaming in honor of Joan and Sanford I. WeillStrategy

    Background

    Cornell recognized major philanthropic support from Joan and Sanford I. Weill as the medical college expanded its educational, research, and clinical activities.

    Action taken

    The medical college adopted the Joan and Sanford I. Weill Medical College of Cornell University name.

    Aftermath

    The Weill name became a durable part of the institution's identity and was later retained in the shorter Weill Cornell Medicine brand.

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