About St. Louis (concept)

NEW to include:

• Livability: Beyond Silicon Valley: 5 up-and-coming tech hotspots
• NYT Frugal Traveler: St. Louis is as welcoming as it is budget-friendly
• Vogue: An insider’s guide to the magic of St. Louis, Missouri
• Sam Fox project / inspired wall

A hub for international research and a destination for patients in need of exceptional care, St. Louis is the ideal location to train and excel in health, medicine and research.

Washington University Medical Campus stands at the heart of a thriving metropolitan area 2.8 million people strong. St. Louis tends to keep a low profile, surprising newcomers with its abundance of culture, character and entertainment. In fact, the city earns accolades from techies, foodies, music-lovers and outdoor enthusiasts nationwide.

The face of our city (and Gateway to the west) is just visible beyond the Citygarden sculpture park in downtown St. Louis. The Arch is an engineering feat and stunning sight. Yet when it comes to cool stuff in St. Louis, it’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Something for everyone

St. Louis is a patchwork of eclectic and affordable neighborhoods with world-class arts and attractions. Residents enjoy an outstanding culinary scene, hip nightlife, beloved sports teams, miles of green space, and a gleaming national monument in the heart of downtown. Outside of town, Missouri’s rambling trails and cool streams offer endless adventures in hiking, biking, climbing and kayaking.

New residents and natives alike praise St. Louis for providing the career and cultural opportunities of a big city with the convenience and low cost of living often found in much smaller towns.

At home in the heart of it all

St. Louis consistently ranks among the most affordable cities in the U.S., and the city’s 79 neighborhoods and dozens of surrounding suburbs – each with their own perks and personalities – invite you to find the perfect place to call home.

The neighborhoods closest to the medical center offer trendy establishments, historic charm and a quick commute. The campus is located in the city’s Central West End, an area brimming with upscale dining and entertainment options that cater to the area’s young professionals. A short walk away in the Grove neighborhood, breweries, music venues, pizza joints, international eateries and rainbow flags line the main drag.

The medical campus also borders Forest Park, where miles of multi-use trails wind around some of the city’s most popular destinations. Named USA Today’s Best City Park in 2016, Forest Park is home to the city’s art museum, zoo, science center and other free attractions, offering an expansive area to explore athletic and cultural interests – and to meet sea lions, penguins and polar bears (nearly) face-to-face.

St. Louis is also easy to get around. The Medical Campus is surrounded by walkable, bike-friendly neighborhoods. Students and employees get free Metro passes, good for the region’s bus and light rail systems. The MetroLink train makes a stop in the heart of the medical campus, so a trip downtown or to the airport is a quick ride away. The university also offers free membership in a Car Share program. By car, parking fees around the city are relatively low or nonexistent.

A hub of health and biotech innovation

St. Louis has an impressive bioscience history, yet it’s the city’s future as the home of a thriving science and technology community that is generating excitement and interest from students and professionals in medical research and practice. In fact, St. Louis consistently earns a top spot on lists ranking America’s best cities for innovation, tech and startups (see what Business Insider, the Brookings Institute, Popular Mechanics and Forbes have to say).

More than 1,000 plant and life science companies already flourish in St. Louis, which ranks second in the nation for jobs in the biotech, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and advanced materials industries. Moving forward, Washington University School of Medicine is at the center of growth in the city, both literally and figuratively.

The Cortex district serves as a national model for driving innovation in biomedical science and technology.

In 2002, the school joined forces with some of the region’s major academic and research institutions to found the Cortex Innovation Community, the Midwest’s premiere hub of bioscience and technology research, development and commercialization. Located adjacent to the Medical Campus, this rapidly expanding biotech district is home to dozens of startups and established companies, as well as networking events, hackathons, funding groups, fabricators and other resources.

Read about the university’s latest health innovations »

Making a real difference

In recent years, the St. Louis region has become ground zero for a nationwide social justice movement. While many people in St. Louis live comfortably in safe neighborhoods with easy access to good schools, amenities and health care, too many residents live a world away, grappling with the consequences of systemic racism and poverty.

The medical school is facing these disparities head-on, taking meaningful action to increase diversity on campus and in medical professions while making culturally competent healthcare a curricular priority. Universitywide, diversity initiatives and programs aim to correct systemic disparities, while dialogue series and community partnerships expand the conversation beyond campus and promote active engagement. 

It’s little surprise that a socially engaged campus in a city of activists attracts students, investigators and practitioners in health and medicine – people who have chosen professions dedicated to helping others.

“We accept our unique urban enclave for all its glory and will not shy away from engaging with the St. Louis community to help eliminate the social factors that contributed to the crisis in Ferguson.”

Will R. Ross, MD, MPH
Associate Dean for Diversity

Many medical students volunteer at the Saturday Neighborhood Health Clinic, a free student-run clinic in an underserved neighborhood. The experience strengthens students’ skills in patient care and cultural competence and provides a vital service for patients in need.

We are a place for people who want to change the world. Our students, faculty and trainees are active partners in the St. Louis community, working to improve the region’s public health infrastructure while developing the cultural awareness required of effective and engaged health care professionals.

Interested in learning more about how we’re engaged in our community?

• Explore community health partnerships at the Institute for Public Health
  
• Read student perspectives on Ferguson

NOTES AND DRAFTS

• WashU STL page
• School of Engineering STL page
• Brown School STL page
• MD Admissions STL page
• Ob/Gyn STL page
• Psychiatry Department: St. Louis is … // Central West End

From previous hr.med.wustl.edu:

The Washington University Medical Center covers 17 city blocks where the bustle of St. Louis’s Central West End  and Grove neighborhoods meets the tranquility of Forest Park. This intersection places the campus at the heart of a thriving metropolitan area that has something to offer for everyone.

Rich in history and home to attractions as diverse as professional hockey and the symphony orchestra, St. Louis appeals to residents of all ages and interests. The city boasts family-friendly attractions (many of which are free); outdoor adventures and activities; art museums, galleries and antique shops; historic neighborhoods, endless shopping, a brewing heritage and renaissance, and so much more.

In addition, the neighborhoods of St. Louis offer homebuyers and renters a range of options in character, location and budget, and the region’s Metro system combines bus and light rail transit to lighten the commute of tens of thousands of residents each day.

If you’re looking for a rewarding job in a region that can make everyone feel at home, the School of Medicine at Washington University in St. Louis may be just the place for you. Start your search now.

DELETED or EDITED content to hang onto:

The St. Louis region’s recent history has placed it at the epicenter of a social justice movement calling on the nation to examine and dismantle the systemic oppression of marginalized groups. On campus, the university is facing these struggles head-on, most visibly with diversity and inclusion programs and a university-wide discovery and dialogue series.

News from our community

Just south of Washington University Medical Center, the Grove neighborhood boasts historic homes, affordable apartments, and a popular dining and nightlife district.