The University of Missouri School of Medicine is entering a period of strategic growth and innovation, highlighted by the UM Board of Curators’ approval to expand the Springfield clinical campus into a full four-year medical program. This expansion will increase total enrollment across Columbia and Springfield to more than 670 medical students and strengthen the university’s commitment to addressing Missouri’s physician shortage, particularly in rural regions. Beginning in 2027, first-year students will be welcomed to the Springfield campus, with fully identical curricula delivered across both sites through shared faculty, expanded simulation resources, and bi-directional livestreamed instruction. This milestone underscores the university’s broader mission to enhance statewide access to high-quality medical education and clinical care.
Complementing this statewide investment, the School of Medicine’s MOmentum curriculum redesign is transforming how future physicians are trained. MOmentum builds on MU’s long-standing learner-centered approach by integrating cutting-edge technology, innovative teaching strategies, and comprehensive support systems to create a dynamic and effective learning environment. The redesigned curriculum emphasizes evidence-based education, active learning, individualized support, early clinical exposure, and the development of lifelong, self-directed learners prepared to navigate an increasingly complex health care landscape. Through MOmentum, the School of Medicine is charting a bold path forward, ensuring students graduate with the advanced skills, adaptability, and patient-centered mindset needed to excel in modern medicine.