Wake Forest University School of Medicine directs the education of nearly 1,900 students and fellows, including physicians, basic scientists and allied clinical professionals. The School of Medicine also strategically investigates opportunities that will expand basic and clinical research, resulting in nationally and internationally recognized excellence in biomedical research. The School of Medicine seeks to leverage its current areas of strength and focus to improve integration of its research programs and to maximize multidisciplinary and translational approaches. The School of Medicine is among the top of U.S. academic medical centers in total funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In the 2014 fiscal year, the school was awarded $193.4 million in research funding from federal and state agencies, industry and other sources. The School of Medicine curriculum, developed by faculty, aims to cultivate physicians who: - Set the standards for compassionate, collaborative care. - Lead the way in socially responsible health care and biomedical sciences locally, nationally, and globally. - Engage in lifelong learning, discovery and application of innovative knowledge technology and skills in medicine. The School of Medicine is committed to excellence in primary care, with students experiencing patient care from their first week of medical school, as well as tertiary care, a critical component for a research and teaching hospital.