Feinberg Welcomes New MD Class with Weeklong Introduction to the Profession
Feinberg welcomed the entering MD Class of 2026 during the Introduction to the Profession module, held from August 3-7. The weeklong experience, which concludes with Founders’ Day, introduces first-year students to the foundations of their medical education.
“Introduction to the Profession is a week focused on professionalism, communication and teamwork,” said Joshua Hauser, MD, professor of Medicine and of Medical Education. “It also functions as an introduction to the overall Feinberg curriculum and a chance for students to begin building community together in their new home for the next four or more years. Over the years, we have continued to expand the number of experiential and small group activities during the week.”
As part of the program, students participated in Focused Hospital Experiences, shadowing and learning from healthcare professionals across the system, an activity which involves more than 75 hospital colleagues in disciplines ranging from nursing to social work to patient transport and IT. They also conducted their first patient interviews with individuals receiving care at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.
Each day of the module centered on one of Feinberg’s core competencies, exploring the roles of healer, community member, scholar, learner and teacher, and member of a profession. The class also enjoyed a bus tour of Chicago, including a visit to Bronzeville, a neighborhood where many patients of Northwestern’s affiliate hospitals reside.
“We’ve learned that some of the most meaningful activities are the community-building that happens in a very organic way during this week amongst the students and between students and faculty,” said Hauser, who is also the palliative medicine fellowship director.
The class of 141 new first-year medical students comes from 26 states and the District of Columbia, and has earned undergraduate degrees from 54 different undergraduate schools, where they pursued 54 fields of study. All 141 students of the 2026 entering class engaged in research at the undergraduate or graduate level.
Students also gathered at the garden outside of the Museum of Contemporary Art for a class picnic, offering a chance to connect with new classmates and faculty members outside the classroom before the start of the academic year.
See photos from the picnic .
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