Rush Medical College

Rush Medical College was one of the first medical schools founded west of Ohio. It was named by its founder, Dr. Daniel Brainard, in honor of Benjamin Rush, M.D., the physician-statesman who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

During the nineteenth century, Rush grew quickly, paralleling Chicago's rapid growth as a major urban center. In the manner of most medical schools in the 1800's, Rush was a proprietary institution owned and operated by a group of physicians who, in this situation, had joined Dr. Brainard in establishing practices in young Chicago.

By the beginning of the twentieth century, Rush was among the nation's largest and most distinguished medical schools. At that time Rush's faculty "proprietors" accepted a proposal to affiliate with the then new University of Chicago. It was a mutually beneficial development for both institutions. University affiliation brought Rush the research academic connection central to twentieth century medical school organization. Furthermore, the university helped Rush students and faculty create a "new" Rush with a reputation equaling that of the earlier institution. By World War II, however, Rush and the University of Chicago believed their affiliation no longer suited their respective missions and by 1942 Rush had developed an affiliation with the University of Illinois' College of Medicine instead. The U. I. College campus became the city's west side medical district neighbor of Rush and Presbyterian Hospital and its traditional teaching facility.

In the late 1960's, Rush Medical College accepted the proposal of Presbyterian-St. Luke's Hospital to merge its historic charter with the large teaching hospital and to resume accepting students studying for the doctor of medicine. In 1956, Chicago's distinguished St. Luke's Hospital had accepted Rush's teaching hospital's invitation to merge to organize the critical mass of resources contemporary teaching medical centers need.

Rush trustees and alumni were impressed by budding plans for The Rush System for Health. Remarkable plans for a new medical complex were presented as the College considered renewing full instructional capabilities as part of the Rush University Medical Center. A renewed and revitalized Rush Medical College would be a key educational component to help guarantee the success of the comprehensive vision for healthcare research, education, and delivery the Rush System for Health represented. System plans, articulated originally by a group of distinguished physicians at Presbyterian-St. Luke's Hospital, continues to inspire the growth and development of Rush University Medical Center and Rush University.

From the guide to the Rush Medical College. Records, 1923-1941, (Special Collections Research Center University of Chicago Library 1100 East 57th Street Chicago, Illinois 60637 U.S.A.)