With the year coming to a close, it's time to reflect on all that the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine has accomplished in 2025. In this year alone, the school launched Nevada’s first hematology/medical oncology fellowship program, contributed to a historic breakthrough in Alzheimer’s disease detection, and helped drive legislative change to strengthen healthcare across the state.
Alongside these achievements, the school completed its first in-person, accreditation site visit since receiving preliminary accreditation in 2016; celebrated the significant milestones of its students, from Match Day and the white coat ceremony to the academic hooding and commencement ceremony; and saw the excellence of its faculty and its associated faculty practice plan, UNLV Health, recognized nationally and locally. Twenty-five faculty members were recognized in Castle Connolly’s 2025 Top Doctors, and UNLV Health earned gold, silver, and bronze honors in the inaugural FOX5 Vegas Viewer's Choice Awards 2025.
Below is a recap of some of the school’s successes during the year. For more information, you are invited to check out the school's website and follow the school on social media.
Department of Brain Health Joins the School of Medicine
In January 2025, the department of brain health joined the school of medicine. To celebrate, the school hosted the "Brain Health Frontiers: Tackling Alzheimer's Together" panel discussion, which highlighted the department's revolutionary research.
Nevada's First Hematology/Medical Oncology Fellowship Program
The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) approved the school’s application for a hematology/medical oncology fellowship program — the first in Nevada. The fellowship will live under the department of internal medicine with the first fellows expected to start in July 2026.
Match Day 2025
On March 21, 2025, the school celebrated the class of 2025 matches and welcomed 88 residents to its GME programs. The class had a 100% residency placement with 41% matching in Nevada.
Class of 2027 White Coat Ceremony
On March 28, 2025, the class of 2027 reached a significant milestone in their medical school journey — the transition from learning in the classroom to learning in the clinic and the hospital bedside.
School of Medicine Interdisciplinary Research Symposium
The office of research held its research symposium on April 15, 2025. This event advanced research across multiple disciplines and contributed to UNLV’s goal to retain its R1 designation as one of the nation’s highest-performing research universities.
The School's First Military Commissioning Ceremony
On May 7, 2025, the school recognized two members of its graduating class, Captain Nicholas Burpee and Captain Irwin Munoz, for their commitment and dedication to both medicine and service to our country with the school’s first military commissioning ceremony.
Class of 2025 Academic Hooding and Commencement Ceremony
The class of 2025 completed their medical school journey and received their medical doctor degrees on May 9, 2025.
Department of Brain Health Contributes to Historic Breakthrough in Alzheimer’s Disease Detection
The department provided data that helped a cutting-edge Alzheimer’s disease diagnostic test secure approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Senate Bill 262
On June 10, 2025, Senate Bill 262, which enhances the GME Grant Program and expands opportunities to train more physicians in Nevada, was officially passed through the Nevada Legislature.
Welcoming the Class of 2029
The school’s ninth cohort were officially welcomed on July 15, 2025. The students were able to meet their fellow classmates and learn more about the school through a week of activities. The school also received 2,375 medical school applications, the highest in the school’s history.
Faculty Recognized in Castle Connolly’s 2025 Top Doctors
Twenty-five faculty were recognized in Castle Connolly’s 2025 Top Doctors, a list published in Desert Companion magazine that represents the top 7% of all U.S. practicing physicians. These doctors are best-in-class healthcare providers, embodying excellence in clinical care as well as interpersonal skills.
Completion of the School's Accreditation Site Visit
The school’s Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) accreditation site visit was from Oct. 27-29, 2025. The survey team left extremely positive feedback after the visit. The school is expected to get the final report early next year.
Philanthropic Momentum
Thanks to generous donors, the school raised $2.24 million this year, exceeding the totals of both previous years combined.
