University Of Glasgow Medical School
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The University of Glasgow School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing is the
medical school A medical school is a tertiary educational institution, professional school, or forms a part of such an institution, that teaches medicine, and awards a professional degree for physicians. Such medical degrees include the Bachelor of Medicine, ...
of the
University of Glasgow The University of Glasgow (abbreviated as ''Glas.'' in Post-nominal letters, post-nominals; ) is a Public university, public research university in Glasgow, Scotland. Founded by papal bull in , it is the List of oldest universities in continuous ...
,
Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...
, and is one of the largest in Europe, offering a 5-year MBChB degree course. The School of Medicine uses lecture-based learning, problem-based learning and Glasgow's case-based learning. The medical school in 2025 was ranked 3rd in the UK by
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University Guide, 7th by the Complete University Guide, and 13th by
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University Guide. It also ranked 50th in the world by both the
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and the
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in the same year.


History

The University of Glasgow School of Medicine has a history dating back to its seventeenth-century beginnings. Achievements in medical science include contributions from renowned physicians such as Joseph Lister (antisepsis), George Beatson (breast cancer), John Macintyre (X-rays and radiology), William Hunter (anatomy and obstetrics) and Ian Donald (ultrasound). In addition to achievements in medical science, the school has produced distinguished literary figures such as Tobias Smollett and AJ Cronin. Robert Mayne was appointed the Professor of Medicine in 1637 and held this post until 1645. After a lapse of almost 70 years, John Johnstoun MD was appointed in 1714. However, the modern School of Medicine did not come into being until 1751, when William Cullen was appointed Professor of Medicine. The School of Medicine (and the rest of the university) moved from their original location in High Street, to Gilmorehill in the city's west end in 1870. This came after nearly 40 years of discussions about the future of the school, which was growing in size and reputation throughout the nineteenth century. Eventually, in 1864, the university purchased 43 acres in Gilmorehill for £65,000, leaving the old site available for the construction of College Goods Station. In 1996, the School of Medicine introduced a new curriculum. In response to the GMC document 'Tomorrow's Doctors', the new course was integrated and delivered by problem-based learning. In 2002, the School of Medicine moved into the purpose built Wolfson Medical School Building located at the bottom of University Avenue, designed by Reiach and Hall. In 2005, it was included in the Prospect 100 best modern Scottish buildings rankings. In 2009 the school received an award for Excellence in Learning and Education at the inaugural BMJ awards. In 2010, due to changes in the structure of the NHS and the university, the School of Medicine delivered a new medical course, meeting the recommendations of TD3 and producing graduates more equipped in working and leading in health-care systems around the work. As a result, the most formidable change was the introduction of a course which incorporated all current forms of teaching, moving away from a Problem-based Learning core of teaching. Students are introduced to clinical scenarios from the beginning of their education. Facilities include areas for developing clinical skills and a fully equipped ward housed in the award-winning Wolfson Medical School Building.


Research

The School of Medicine is one of three schools in the University of Glasgow's Biomedical Territory, which also includes the School of Biological and Life Sciences, and Veterinary Medicine. The Biomedical Territory is home to more than 485 academic staff, including approximately 160 clinicians. The territory's research awards since 2001 have exceeded £638M, including investment of over £77M in capital infrastructure.


Triangle of Excellence

The British Heart Foundation Glasgow Cardiovascular Research Centre, the
Glasgow Biomedical Research Centre Glasgow is the Cities of Scotland, most populous city in Scotland, located on the banks of the River Clyde in Strathclyde, west central Scotland. It is the List of cities in the United Kingdom, third-most-populous city in the United Kingdom ...
, and the Wolfson Medical School Building form a "triangle of excellence", enhancing Glasgow's position at the hub of the molecular genetics revolution which is transforming medicine and therapeutics. The British Heart Foundation Glasgow Cardiovascular Research Centre, core funded by a gift of £5M from the British Heart Foundation, provides experimental and clinical facilities to further research into cardiovascular disease.


Curriculum structure

The MBChB programme in Glasgow is based on integration of clinical and preclinical subjects, and on student-centred learning. The programme is based around vertical themes that comprise the basic disciplines of medicine, such as anatomy and physiology, pathology and microbiology, clinical medicine and clinical surgery. Teaching methods include lectures, tutorials, problem-based learning, practical laboratory sessions and clinical bedside teaching. The programme has four phases.


Phase 1

Phase 1 takes up most of the first semester. This is a broad sweep of biomedical subjects, and early clinical and vocational skills. During this phase the student acquires the fundamentals of biomedical science, and the skills necessary for self-directed learning. The themes covered in this section include
homeostasis In biology, homeostasis (British English, British also homoeostasis; ) is the state of steady internal physics, physical and chemistry, chemical conditions maintained by organism, living systems. This is the condition of optimal functioning fo ...
, basic anatomy, physiology and biochemistry, and the fundamentals of health and illness in communities.


Phase 2

Phase 2 takes up the second half of first year and all of second year. It is a system-based, integrated approach to biomedical sciences and basic clinical problems relating to individual systems.


Phase 3

Phase 3 takes up the first half of third year, during which time the student learns the basics of pathology, covering a speciality a week. For example, a week on G.I. pathology, a week on haematology and a week on respiratory pathology. During this time there are weekly visits to either a G.P. or hospital. This is combined with more in-depth teaching on the principles of medicine and surgery, the pathological basis of disease, and clinical investigation and laboratory analysis, including radiology, clinical biochemistry, pathology and microbiology. During the summer vacations after third and fourth years the student undertakes two four-week periods of elective study. These are in subjects and locations of choice and are designed to develop individual interests and to experience medical environments other than those provided on the programme. The top 20% of students after year three have the option of completing an additional intercalated degree before entering year four.


Phase 4

Phase 4 comprises the second half of year three and years four and five. This is the final part of the programme during which the student is attached to clinical specialities, including
obstetrics Obstetrics is the field of study concentrated on pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. As a medical specialty, obstetrics is combined with gynecology under the discipline known as obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN), which is a su ...
and
gynaecology Gynaecology or gynecology (see American and British English spelling differences) is the area of medicine concerned with conditions affecting the female reproductive system. It is often paired with the field of obstetrics, which focuses on pre ...
, child health, psychological medicine, general practice, and more specialised aspects of medicine and surgery. During this phase most of the time is spent in hospital attachments in Glasgow and in the wider West of Scotland, and learning the clinical and practical skills necessary to work as a junior doctor.


Clinical skills and vocational studies

Medical students have contact with patients from early on in the medical degree programme. Training in communication and clinical skills starts in Year 1, while vocational studies assist students in the acquisition of professional skills and attributes, standards and behaviour.


Wolfson Medical School Building

The Wolfson Medical School Building opened in September 2002, designed by Reiach and Hall Architects at a cost of £9m. It was designed to accommodate the problem-based learning curriculum. As well as three small lecture rooms (with capacity for around eighty people in each) and ten PBL Rooms, facilities include:


School library

The Walton Foundation Library and Resource Area occupies three levels of the building and is open to medical students 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. As well as 120 study carrels (booths), some with flat-screen computers, students have access video recorders and DVD players for watching clinical skills materials, over 3000 books (including multiple copies of core texts), CD-ROMs and computer-aided learning packages. There are six project rooms.


Clinical skills

Clinical skills is made up from a fully equipped ward and side rooms complete with audio visual equipment, allowing students to document, analyse and improve their performance. This area also contains Harvey (a cardiology patient simulator which can help students to diagnose cardiac abnormalities) and Sim-man (a life support patient simulator).


The Vocational Studies Suite

In Vocational Studies, students acquire professional skills and attributes. In the Vocational Studies Suite medical students can practise consulting in a realistic environment, interacting with actors in the roles of patients. The suite comprises 10 small group learning rooms equipped with audiovisual technology as well as two soft seating pre-consultation ‘waiting’ areas for the simulated patients. In addition, there is a resource room with teaching materials and videos. Consulting rooms are positioned adjacent to small group learning rooms, where their classmates and tutors can observe their simulated consultations on a TV monitor. These rooms also provide the opportunity for student-tutor encounters over a period of time that are essential to professional development. As well as communication skills, the Vocational Studies Suite is a base from which ethics, professional development and other aspects of doctors’ behaviour and attitudes are explored.


The Atrium

The central triangle of the medical school, covered by a glass roof and with its own café and seating area.


Associated hospitals

Hospitals that are associated with the Medical School include: *
Ayrshire Central Hospital Ayrshire Central Hospital, also known as Irvine Central Hospital, is an NHS Scotland, NHS hospital in Irvine, North Ayrshire, Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland. It is managed by NHS Ayrshire and Arran. History Formation The hospital is constructe ...
* Dykebar Hospital * Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary * Falkirk Royal Infirmary * Gartnavel General Hospital * Gartnavel Royal Hospital * Glasgow Royal Infirmary * Golden Jubilee University National Hospital * Inverclyde Royal Hospital * Leverndale Hospital * Parkhead Hospital * Princess Royal Maternity Hospital * Queen Elizabeth University Hospital * Queen Mother's Maternity Hospital * Royal Alexandra Hospital * Ravenscraig Hospital * Royal Hospital for Children * Stobhill Hospital * Stirling Royal Infirmary * University Hospital Ayr * University Hospital Crosshouse * University Hospital Hairmyres * University Hospital Monklands * University Hospital Wishaw


Notable alumni

Past students of the University of Glasgow School of Medicine include: * William Cullen (1710–1790) - physician and chemist. * William Hunter (1718–1783) - anatomist and obstetrician. * Tobias George Smollett (1721–1771) - novelist and physician. * Joseph Black (1728–1799) - chemist and physician. * Joseph Lister (1827–1912) - physician. * Murdoch Cameron (1845–1930) - obstetrician. * Sir William MacEwen (1848–1924) - surgeon. * John Glaister Snr (1856–1932) - Regius Professor of Forensic Medicine. * John Glaister Jnr (1892–1971) - Regius Professor of Forensic Medicine. * Marion Gilchrist (1864–1952) - ophthalmologist. * Elizabeth Chesser (1877–1940) - physician, medical journalist * Marbai Ardesir Vakil (1868- c.1948) - physician. * Dame Anne Louise McIlroy (1878–1968) - gynaecologist and obstetrician. * John Boyd Orr (1880–1971) - nutritionist. * Osborne Henry Mavor (1888–1951) Dramatist, GP and Professor of Medicine at Anderson's College. * Archibald Joseph Cronin (1896–1981) (GP and novelist; author of The Citadel and The Stars Look Down) * Ian Donald (1910–1987) - obstetrician and pioneer of medical ultrasound. * Lady Isobel Barnett (1918–1980) TV and radio personality. * Mary Sheila Christian (1924–1997) - A&E physician and surgeon. * James Scott (1924–2006) - obstetrician and gynaecologist. *
Dickson Mabon Jesse Dickson Mabon (1 November 1925 – 10 April 2008), sometimes known as Dick Mabon, was a Scottish politician, physician and business executive. He was the founder of The Manifesto Group of Labour MPs, an alliance of moderate MPs who foug ...
(1925–2008) Scottish Labour and Liberal Democrat politician * RD Laing (1927–1989) - psychiatrist * Stuart Campbell - obstetrician and developer of 3D ultrasound * Ernest Macalpine ("Mac") Armstrong (Chief Medical Officer for Scotland, 2000–2005) * Harry Burns ( Chief Medical Officer for Scotland, 2005–present) * Sir Kenneth Calman (Chief Medical Officer for Scotland, 1989–1991; Chief Medical Officer, United Kingdom of England, 1991–1998;
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and Warden of
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, 1998–2007;
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of the
University of Glasgow The University of Glasgow (abbreviated as ''Glas.'' in Post-nominal letters, post-nominals; ) is a Public university, public research university in Glasgow, Scotland. Founded by papal bull in , it is the List of oldest universities in continuous ...
, 2007–present * Liam Fox (
Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...
politician; Defence Secretary; MP for Woodspring) * Emeli Sandé (Scottish R&B and soul recording artist and songwriter)


Awards

In May 2020, the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing was awarded an Athena SWAN Silver Award.


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:University Of Glasgow Medical School
Glasgow Glasgow is the Cities of Scotland, most populous city in Scotland, located on the banks of the River Clyde in Strathclyde, west central Scotland. It is the List of cities in the United Kingdom, third-most-populous city in the United Kingdom ...
Medical Medicine is the science and Praxis (process), practice of caring for patients, managing the Medical diagnosis, diagnosis, prognosis, Preventive medicine, prevention, therapy, treatment, Palliative care, palliation of their injury or disease, ...
Education in Glasgow Partick