Our vision: To be recognized as world-class leaders in research, education and clinical care.
In the beginning
In 1948, Dr. Robert H. Williams took a risk. The nationally prominent endocrinologist, who had spent 14 years at Johns Hopkins, Vanderbilt and Harvard, accepted an appointment as the chair of the newly established Department of Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine. The medical school was only two years old.
"I thought to myself that if I were given the opportunity to go to an established school or to a new one, I would choose the latter if the opportunity existed for excellence.
After all, it's not what is, but what is going to be. I knew that we were going to develop something tremendous here. I have never been disappointed."
-Founding chair Dr. Robert H. Williams
Continuing to grow
The Department of Medicine began with an original group of six stellar faculty members teaching and practicing at a single site. It is now the largest department at the University of Washington.
The largest department at the University of Washington, and growing.
- 1000+ paid faculty
- 1000+ volunteer faculty
- 360+ residents and fellows
- 1200+ staff
From Allergy and Infectious Diseases to Rheumatology, we offer a breadth of knowledge and opportunities in medical education, research and clinical care.
Each year we appoint over 300 and promote over 80 faculty members. Our promotion rate is 30% of the total promotions in the School of Medicine, which has 31 departments, and 18% of promotions institution-wide.
We have over 100 active faculty recruitments at all times.
Reaching far and wide
The Department of Medicine operates in clinics and hospitals in Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho (WWAMI).