University of Cincinnati Health Colleges: 200 Years

In 1819, Daniel Drake founded the Medical College of Ohio, which later became the University of Cincinnati (UC), College of Medicine. Thus began two centuries of innovation in health education that has made UC a globally recognized leader in educating generations of professionals in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and allied health sciences. As the 19th century came to a close, the importance of science-based medicine began to gain traction. Its medical faculty, including Christian R. Holmes, were primary contributors to Abraham Flexner’s now-famous report that revolutionized medical education. UC continued to shape health education throughout the 20th century, perhaps most notably by George Heuer in surgery, Benjamin Rachford in pediatrics, Herbert Flessa in emergency medicine, Laura Logan in nursing, and Joseph Kowalewski in pharmacy. And in the 21st century, the tradition continues with the vision and leadership of people like Donald Harrison in forming the College of Allied Health Sciences and creative power of Anil Menon in leading the formation of the undergraduate medical sciences program.