On Mar. 11, 1850, the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania, later known as the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania (WWCP) was founded, becoming the second medical institution in the world established to train women in medicine to earn the M.D. degree.

In 1970, the college admitted, and was renamed as the Medical College of Pennsylvania. In 1993, the college and hospital merged with Hahnemann Medical School. In 2003, the colleges were absorbed by Drexel University College of Medicine.

WMCP provided a foundation that continues to be built upon, centuries later. 2019 marked the first year in which more women students than men enrolled in medical school in the U.S (50.5% of students), which increased to a 54.6% majority as recently as 2023–2024. At Drexel, the College of Medicine’s Class of 2029 was 59% women.