The Southern Illinois University School of Medicine is 4-year MD-granting program that welcomed its first class in 1973. SIU School of Medicine does not accept out-of- state students for the MD program. They have a strong emphasis on serving the people of central and southern Illinois and look to find students who identify with that mission. SIUMED has a student to faculty ratio of 1:1, and students often work in small groups of 6-7 students. Students begin their clinical experience in the first year, and a smaller class size allows for increased opportunities in research and clinical exposure.