AHC Overview

In 1851, the seeds of the Academic Health Center were planted with territorial legislation that created the University of Minnesota and named medicine and science among five original academic disciplines. Over the past century and a half it has taken root, grown, and flourished to become one of the most comprehensive health education and research centers in the United States. 

The AHC now comprises six schools and colleges of medicine, public health, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine as well as allied health programs. Interdisciplinary efforts include the Center for Spirituality and Healing, the Center for Bioethics, the Cancer Center, the Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy, the Center for Animal Health & Food Safety, the Center for Drug Design, and the Biomedical Genomics Center. 

Our schools educate 70 percent of Minnesota's health care professionals. We are also an economic engine driving Minnesota's leading industry, health care services and products. We develop new health technologies independently and in collaboration with Minnesota biomedical companies. 

In January 1997, the University of Minnesota Hospital and Clinics merged with Fairview Health Services, a system of seven hospitals and 30 clinics. Most of our faculty physicians are members of University of Minnesota Physicians, a multi-specialty clinical practice with a primary affiliation with University of Minnesota Medical Center, a division of Fairview, one of the nation s top research and teaching hospitals.

On July 14, 2000, the University of Minnesota Board of Regents approved a new Academic Health Center vision, which broadly reflects the issues experienced by individual schools and our external community to ensure that our significant role in professional health education is met. The vision includes the following seven principles:

• Create and prepare the new health professionals for Minnesota; 
• Sustain the vitality and excellence of Minnesota's health research;  
• Expedite the dissemination and application of new knowledge into the promotion of health and delivery of health care in Minnesota; 
• Develop and provide new models of health promotion and care for Minnesota; 
• Reduce health disparities in Minnesota and address the needs of the state's diverse populations; 
• Use information technology to transform how we educate, conduct research, and provide service to individuals and communities in Minnesota;  and
• Build a culture of service and accountability to Minnesota.