The University of Liverpool School of Medicine is a medical school located in Liverpool, United Kingdom and a part of the University of Liverpool. It is one of the largest medical schools in the UK, and in 1903 became one of the first to be incorporated into a university.
The school used to have a problem-based learning curriculum, which was replaced in 2014 with a new 'integrated' curriculum for its flagship five-year MBChB course, which has an annual intake of 340 students. Around 1400 medical undergraduates and 600 taught postgraduates study at the school at any one time. The school also offers an MD programme and courses for continuing professional development.
History
A medical school in Liverpool was established in 1834. Dr Richard Formby, who ran a course of lectures in anatomy and physiology since 1818, joined with a group of colleagues to form a school of medicine attached to the Liverpool Royal Institution, which occupied rooms in Colquitt Street. William Gill (surgeon), who had set up a second Anatomy School in Liverpool in 1827, accepted a joint Lectureship in Anatomy with Dr Formby, who also lectured in Medicine. Other doctors from the Infirmary and Dispensary lectured on Surgery, Chemistry, Midwifery and Medical jurisprudence. In 1844, the medical school became attached to the Liverpool Infirmary, which was renamed in 1851 to become the Liverpool Royal Infirmary School of Medicine.[1]
In November 1877, a joint meeting was held between the Liverpool Association for the Promotion of Higher Education and the Council of the School of Medicine to look to establishing a University in Liverpool. Several staff members of the medical school were mentioned at the meeting including Dr Richard Caton, William Mitchell Banks and Reginald Harrison. That same year, Experimental physics was included in the syllabus for University of London medical degrees, which Liverpool could not provide. Thus, University College Liverpool was eventually established in 1881.[1]
The Royal Infirmary School of Medicine initially kept its independence, but in 1884 became the Faculty of Medicine when University College was affiliated to Victoria University, along with Owen's College, Manchester and Yorkshire College, Leeds. Victoria University had the power to award medical degrees with its own syllabus requirements. The University of Liverpool received its royal charter in 1903, establishing its independence and leading the way for many provincial medical schools. This also made it possible for degrees to be awarded to women.[1]
In 2011 following an internal restructure of the University, the Faculty of Medicine was demoted back to School status under the stewardship of the new Faculty of Health and Life Sciences.
Facilities
The school's facilities have recently undergone a massive refurbishment and redevelopment. The refurbished Liverpool Royal Infirmary Waterhouse buildings house the Clinical Skills Resource Centre for clinical teaching, and a centre for the development of personalised medicine. The school also makes use of a Human Anatomy Resource Centre for anatomy teaching.
The School of Medicine is based in the 19th century Cedar House building on Ashton Street. Cedar House includes teaching rooms, administrative offices for the senior management, and a medical student common room.
In 2011 there were around 1,400 undergraduate students enrolled on the MBChB course and 600 taught postgraduates
For the five-year A100 course, the current conditional offer given to a student taking A-Level examinations is AAA, to include Biology and Chemistry at A-Level. Candidates are required to sit the UCAT examination. The style of interviews is MMI (Multiple Mini Interviews).
J.M. Leggate, graduated 1929, President of Guild of Students, Dean of Faculty of Medicine (1953 - 1969), lecture theatre in the Victoria Building is named after him[5]
^ abcdeGray, T. Cecil; Sheard, Sally (2001). A Brief History of Medical Education in Liverpool. The Bluecoat Press.
^Dr Richard Caton, Minutes of the Royal Infirmary School of Medicine Debating Society (M.S.D.S.), 20 October 1874 (Available from the University of Liverpool Special Collections and Archives)
^ abcBickerton, Thomas H. (1936). A Medical History of Liverpool from the Earliest Days to the Year 1920. London: John Murray. pp. Appendices - Presidents of the Liverpool Medical Institution until 1920.
