USF Health’s Morsani College of Medicine is transforming Tampa Bay into a national leader in medical research, education and biotech innovation.
Tampa Bay is rapidly becoming an epicenter for medical research and innovation. Home to top-tier health systems and world-class hospitals, the region is not only a destination for medical professionals but also a driving force in training the next generation of physicians, with USF Health Morsani College of Medicine playing an increasingly prominent role on both the regional and national stage.
Originally founded in 1971 and rebranded in 2011, the Morsani College of Medicine has seen steady growth since its inaugural class graduated five decades ago, but its upward trajectory has sharply accelerated in recent years.
This year, U.S. News & World Report named the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine a Tier 1 research medical school—one of only 16 in the nation and the only one in Florida to receive that distinction. The publication’s four-tier system evaluates medical schools based on research activity, student selectivity, academic qualifications and faculty resources, with Tier 1 representing the highest possible designation.
The college’s thriving reputation for academic excellence is evident in student performance. Morsani’s most recent class posted a record median MCAT score of 520, placing in the 97th percentile nationally. Students also achieved a 100% pass rate on the Step 2 licensing exam, with an average score of 257— among the highest in the nation.
These impressive scores reflect not only the caliber of the students but also the college’s commitment to cutting-edge education—exemplified by its recent partnership with Microsoft to launch the first-ever Microsoft Medical School of Innovation, featuring tech-enabled classrooms designed to shape the future of medicine.
Morsani’s strength also lies in its hands-on clinical training, made possible through partnerships with leading institutions like Moffitt Cancer Center and Tampa General Hospital.
“The Morsani College of Medicine and its associated hospitals also benefit patients by providing the highest level of physician expertise and multidisciplinary, complex care—lifesaving care that often is unavailable elsewhere,” said Dr. Charles Lockwood, executive vice president of USF Health and dean of the college. “Patients treated at academic medical centers, such as the joint enterprise of Tampa General Hospital and the Morsani College of Medicine, have up to a 20 percent higher survival rate.”
Research is another major driver of Morsani’s rise and Tier 1 ranking. Among its headline research projects is a $28 million state-funded study on hyperbaric oxygen therapy for traumatic brain injuries in veterans and service members. Other initiatives explore how space travel affects women’s reproductive health, how AI can detect disease through voice analysis, and longer-lasting treatments for Parkinson’s disease.
“Medical research benefits Tampa Bay in a larger sense by advancing our knowledge of diseases, treatments and cures,” Dr. Lockwood says.
That benefit isn’t just medical—it’s economic. “USF Health’s research enterprise also benefits Tampa Bay economically,” he added. “One dollar of NIH funding produces $2.21 in spending on community goods and services, while one dollar invested in basic science research delivers $8.38 in industry investment over eight years.”
In 2024, Morsani’s reputation attracted the Global Virus Network, which named the college its international headquarters and brought on Dr. Robert Gallo—co-discoverer of the HIV virus and a two-time Lasker Award winner—as faculty. Morsani also helped launch the Tampa Medical and Research District in downtown Tampa, in collaboration with Tampa General Hospital and the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council. The district is now a fast-growing hub for biotech companies, advanced clinical care and academic excellence.
With top-performing students, high-impact research and visionary partnerships, the Morsani College of Medicine is not just keeping pace with the future of health care—it’s helping to lead it.
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