Community Overview

Entering an MD/PhD program typically represents a commitment of 7-8 intensive years developing critical skills. Rochester's convenient and pleasant living environment allows this time to be pleasurable as well as productive. Housing is very affordable and close to campus; many of our students elect to purchase homes or condominiums, others choose to live in University housing. Rochester is an intermediate-size city with a population of about 250,000 in the city and one million in the metropolitan community. It is located on Lake Ontario in the Genesee Valley, near the Finger Lakes region of western New York State. The Rochester economy is based on high technology with Eastman Kodak, Xerox, the University, and Bausch & Lomb being major employers. There are ample opportunities for employment of students' spouses.

The University is located near the southern border of the city, about 3 miles from downtown. The downtown cultural district includes the Memorial Art Gallery, the Rochester Museum and Science Center, the Strasenburgh Planetarium, and George Eastman House, an internationally renowned museum of photography, which also houses the best movie collection in the world. Downtown also has the Eastman Theatre, home of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Rochester has a rich tradition of music with several summer festivals, music clubs, and the University of Rochester Eastman School of Music, which is consistently ranked first or second in the United States. The Rochester Red Wings baseball, Raging Rhinos soccer, Amerks hockey, and Knighthawks lacrosse teams also play downtown in recently built or renovated facilities.

The open country south of Rochester is easily accessible from the University. This includes the Genesee River Valley with the striking gorge of Letchworth Park, Bristol Hills with its associated ski areas, and the Finger Lakes with their excellent wineries. These areas and Lake Ontario provide extensive opportunities for hiking, biking, camping, skiing, boating, sailing, fishing, or casual excursions. They provide a perfect venue for enjoying all four seasons.

Rochester is a progressive, humanistic community built on the traditions established by such residents as Frederick Douglass, Susan B. Anthony, George Eastman, and Chester Carlson. Reader's Digest recently called it America's kindest city. It provides an ideal environment for the years of personal growth that culminate in an MD/PhD degree.

For more information please see the School of Medicine & Dentistry site