Academic staff ~275 Phone +44 1382 660111 Founded 1967 Undergraduates 1,009 | Established 1967 Location Dundee, Scotland Address Dundee DD2 1GZ, UK Dean Prof. Gary J. Mires Postgraduates 2,645 | |
Similar University of Dundee, University of St Andrews, University of Edinburg, University of Aberdeen, University of Nottingha Profiles | ||
The University of Dundee School of Medicine is the division concerned with medical education and clinical research at the University of Dundee in Scotland. In 1967, Dundee's medical school became independent in its own right having started in 1889 as a joint venture between the University of St Andrews and University College, Dundee. In 1974 the medical school moved to a large teaching facility based at Ninewells Hospital in the west of Dundee. The School of Medicine now encompasses undergraduate, postgraduate, specialist teaching centres and four research divisions.
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History
The Universities Scotland Act 1889 paved the way for an affiliation between St Andrews and University College, Dundee. During the 1894-95 session, there were nine Professors engaged in teaching fifty matriculated students. Formal Union between St Andrews University and College of Dundee was achieved in 1897. Buildings for the Dundee Medical School were officially opened in 1904, with the intention of accommodating 100–150 students.
By 1949, the Dundee Royal Infirmary and the Maryfield Hospital were both being used for teaching medical students, but it was already apparent that to expand capacity it would be more economical to build a new facility away from the centre of the city. By 1961, plans were being exhibited for a new building that would allow the medical school to increase to a capacity of 500 students.
In 1967, a University Charter was awarded to Queens College, formerly University College, and it became the University of Dundee Medical School, now separate from St Andrews.
Opened in 1974 by the Queen Mother, the Ninewells Hospital & Medical School took over from the Dundee Royal Infirmary as the principal site of medical teaching for the University and eventually led to the closure of the Royal Infirmary in 1998.
In August 2015 the University had a reorganisation into a new academic school structure with nine schools. The medical school had previously been part of the "College of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing". As well as undergraduate and postgraduate medical courses, the School of Medicine also incorporates skills centres and research units. As of 2015, there are 1,009 undergraduates and 2,645 postgraduate students enrolled at the School of Medicine.
Recent developments
Together with Ninewells Hospital, Perth Royal Infirmary to the west and Stracathro Hospital to the north provide clinical experience and teaching facilities for the University's medical students.
A modern clinical simulation area was opened in November 2011.
In 2011, plans for a glass-fronted extension to the medical school buildings at Ninewells were announced. By 2012, work on the first phase was underway on the site at Ninewells, with the development expected to cost around £11 million. An £8 million upgrade of the Gannochy Trust Lecture Theatre won a commendation from the Dundee Civic Trust.
In April 2015, a reduction of fifteen academic staff posts was announced.
Research
The School of Medicine contains four research divisions with research themes influenced by the University's partnership with NHS Tayside:
The Academic Health Science Partnership in Tayside was established jointly by the University of Dundee, the Scottish Government and NHS Tayside with the goal of strengthening the links between academia and the health service. Research at the School of Medicine is the main factor behind the AHSP's drive to improve clinical care and spread health education locally, nationally and internationally.
Reputation
In 2011, the University of Dundee was ranked by Quacquarelli Symonds as the 58th in the world for their medical degree programme. The medical school has one of the largest research complexes in the UK.
The Guardian ranked Dundee 1st in Scotland for studying medicine in its 2015, 2016, and 2017 university guides and has placed Dundee in the Top 5 medical schools in the UK consistently since 2012.
In 2015, the medical school's Technology and Innovation in Learning team won the Innovation Technology Excellence Award at The Herald's higher education awards.