Vanderbilt University (informally Vandy or VU) is a private research university in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in 1873, it was named in honor of shipping and rail magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided the school its initial $1-million endowment in the hopes that his gift and the greater work of the university would help to heal the sectional wounds inflicted by the Civil War. Vanderbilt is a founding member of the Southeastern Conference and has been the conference's only private school since 1966.
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, Tennessee is a globally recognized leader in medical education, patient care, and pioneering biomedical research. Consistently ranked among the top medical schools nationally, it offers rigorous programs including the MD and MD/PhD, alongside extensive graduate medical education opportunities. The school is dedicated to advancing impactful discovery, cultivating servant leadership, and promoting lifelong learning, driven by core values like integrity, inclusion, and excellence. Faculty and students engage in cutting-edge research across diverse areas, supported by world-class facilities like the Eskind Biomedical Library and the affiliated Vanderbilt University Medical Center. With a rich history dating back to 1874, VUSM continues to shape the future of healthcare through its commitment to innovation, compassionate patient care, and training the next generation of clinicians and scientists.
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