The University of Missouri opened a medical school on the UMKC campus in 1971. Using an alternative approach to medical education from that of the traditional four-year school, the School of Medicine has as its primary mission the training of physicians able to meet the health-care needs of Missouri and the nation.

The approach used at this school is to grant admission to medical school directly from high school in a curriculum spread over six or more calendar years. By providing students with early and continuous patient-care experience, the curriculum fully integrates the teaching of liberal arts/humanities, basic sciences and clinical medicine. The environment for learning created at this institution de-emphasizes competition and encourages learning through close faculty-student interaction and student partnerships.

All medical schools are reviewed and accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, a national body representing the Association of American Medical Colleges and the American Medical Association. The academic philosophy and plan have been endorsed by this committee, and the school is fully accredited.