St George's, University of London
Encyclopedia
St George's, University of London (informally St George's or SGUL, formerly St George's Hospital Medical School) is a medical school
located in London
, United Kingdom
and a constituent college of the federal University of London
. St George's has its origins in 1733, and was the second institution in England
to provide formal training courses for doctors (after the University of Oxford
). St George's affiliated with the University of London soon after the latter's establishment in 1836. As of 2008 St George's medical school accepted around 100 graduates, 175 undergraduates and 10 students from overseas making it one of the largest medical schools in the UK. St George's is closely affiliated to St George's Hospital
and is one of the United Hospitals
.
Originally set up in 1733 next to Hyde Park Corner
(now the site of The Lanesborough
hotel), in central London
, the college was transferred to its current site, Tooting
in South London
in 1980, where it shares a site with St George's Healthcare NHS Trust
. Following Quality Assurance Agency
inspections St George's gained a score of 23 out of 24 for its teaching of medicine — the highest of any of the London medical schools and, by academic teaching standards, the best medical school in London. The inspections report was published in January 2000 and the course, curriculum and teaching methods at St George's have changed since then.
In recent years, St George's has expanded beyond its medical schools roots. Alongside its medical course it now runs a Biomedical Sciences course, which has expanded to meet demand in the last 5 years from an initial intake of 30, to 150 students. There are now more places for Undergraduate Biomedical Science students than 5-Year Medical students.
In partnership with Kingston University
, The Faculty of Health and Social Care Sciences has moved St George's into other areas. Amongst these are Nursing, Physiotherapy, Paramedic Science and Radiography. The Faculty has been congratulated for its high teaching standards, employment rates and cutting edge research in the social sciences.
St George's was also the first institution in the United Kingdom to offer a four year graduate entry medicine degree based on the program from Flinders University
with which it has an exchange program. The first intake was in 2000 with 35 students and the course has since been emulated by many other universities. Entry to the course is highly competitive with candidates being required to sit the GAMSAT
as part of the application process.
Most recently St George's, along with other London medical schools, has been the setting for new television drama Vital Signs
.
In 2008, St George's announced that it planned to merge with Royal Holloway
to form a single institution within the University of London. The merger was called off in a joint statement by the two colleges' principals on 25 September 2009. St George's intends to keep working with Royal Holloway in the field of health and social care along with its well-established Joint Faculty with Kingston University. St George's, Kingston University and Royal Holloway will continue to collaborate in the field of health and social care as part of the existing SWan (South West London Academic Network) healthcare alliance.
took up the position of Principal of St George's. He replaced Acting Principal Sean Hilton, who took over from Professor Michael Farthing
, the current Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sussex
.
activities.
St George's also has a number of sports clubs including swimming, rowing, volleyball, rugby, football, netball, hockey and many others. In 2007-2008 the Men's and Women's Hockey teams both managed to win their respective ULU Premier Divisions.
Each new student at St George's is assigned a 'mum' or 'dad' in the year above. These 'parents' act as mentors for the new students, giving them advice about the course, often tutoring them when needed, as well as buying them drinks during Freshers' Week and beyond. Over the years the family expands to include siblings, uncles, aunts, grandparents etc., spanning all the years of the various courses.
The university owns one hall of residence, Horton Halls, a large modern site which first opened to new students in late September 2007, replacing St. George's Grove the old hall of residence.
St George's enters a team into the British quiz programme University Challenge
each year.
Notable alumni of St George's include:
Medical school
A medical school is a tertiary educational institution—or part of such an institution—that teaches medicine. Degree programs offered at medical schools often include Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Bachelor/Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy, master's degree, or other post-secondary...
located in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and a constituent college of the federal University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
. St George's has its origins in 1733, and was the second institution in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to provide formal training courses for doctors (after the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
). St George's affiliated with the University of London soon after the latter's establishment in 1836. As of 2008 St George's medical school accepted around 100 graduates, 175 undergraduates and 10 students from overseas making it one of the largest medical schools in the UK. St George's is closely affiliated to St George's Hospital
St George's Hospital
Founded in 1733, St George’s Hospital is one of the UK's largest teaching hospitals. It shares its main hospital site in Tooting, England with the St George's, University of London which trains NHS staff and carries out advanced medical research....
and is one of the United Hospitals
United Hospitals
United Hospitals is the historical collective name of the medical schools of London. They are all part of the University of London with the exception of Imperial College School of Medicine which left in 2007. The original United Hospitals referred to Guy's Hospital and St Thomas's Hospital and...
.
History
Hyde Park Corner
Hyde Park Corner is a place in London, at the south-east corner of Hyde Park. It is a major intersection where Park Lane, Knightsbridge, Piccadilly, Grosvenor Place and Constitution Hill converge...
(now the site of The Lanesborough
The Lanesborough
The Lanesborough is a 5-star hotel on Hyde Park Corner, Knightsbridge, central London, England. Operated by the American Starwood Hotels corporation, it is reputedly the most expensive hotel in London, the highest rate being up to £14,000 per night for the "The Lanesborough Suite". A 24-hour...
hotel), in central London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, the college was transferred to its current site, Tooting
Tooting
Tooting is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated south south-west of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
in South London
South London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
in 1980, where it shares a site with St George's Healthcare NHS Trust
St George's Healthcare NHS Trust
St George's Healthcare NHS Trust is based in Tooting in the London Borough of Wandsworth, and serves a population of 1.3 million across southwest London...
. Following Quality Assurance Agency
Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education
Established in 1997, the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education works to ensure that higher education qualifications in the United Kingdom are of a sound standard. It protects the public interest by checking how universities and colleges maintain their academic standards and quality...
inspections St George's gained a score of 23 out of 24 for its teaching of medicine — the highest of any of the London medical schools and, by academic teaching standards, the best medical school in London. The inspections report was published in January 2000 and the course, curriculum and teaching methods at St George's have changed since then.
In recent years, St George's has expanded beyond its medical schools roots. Alongside its medical course it now runs a Biomedical Sciences course, which has expanded to meet demand in the last 5 years from an initial intake of 30, to 150 students. There are now more places for Undergraduate Biomedical Science students than 5-Year Medical students.
In partnership with Kingston University
Kingston University
Kingston University is a public research university located in Kingston upon Thames, southwest London, United Kingdom. It was originally founded in 1899 as Kingston Technical Institute, a polytechnic, and became a university in 1992....
, The Faculty of Health and Social Care Sciences has moved St George's into other areas. Amongst these are Nursing, Physiotherapy, Paramedic Science and Radiography. The Faculty has been congratulated for its high teaching standards, employment rates and cutting edge research in the social sciences.
St George's was also the first institution in the United Kingdom to offer a four year graduate entry medicine degree based on the program from Flinders University
Flinders University
Flinders University, , is a public university in Adelaide, South Australia. Founded in 1966, it was named in honour of navigator Matthew Flinders, who explored and surveyed the South Australian coastline in the early 19th century.The university has established a reputation as a leading research...
with which it has an exchange program. The first intake was in 2000 with 35 students and the course has since been emulated by many other universities. Entry to the course is highly competitive with candidates being required to sit the GAMSAT
GAMSAT
The Graduate Australian Medical School Admissions Test is a test used to select candidates applying to study medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and veterinary science at Australian, British, and Irish universities for admission to their Graduate Entry Programmes The Graduate Australian Medical School...
as part of the application process.
Most recently St George's, along with other London medical schools, has been the setting for new television drama Vital Signs
Vital Signs (TV series)
Vital Signs is a British television drama series airing on ITV from 2006. It stars Tamzin Outhwaite as a supermarket check-out operator who decides to become a doctor. The series co-stars William Beck, Fraser Ayres, Eve Best, Claudie Blakley, Lucinda Dryzek, Beth Goddard, Alfie Hunter, Brooke...
.
In 2008, St George's announced that it planned to merge with Royal Holloway
Royal Holloway, University of London
Royal Holloway, University of London is a constituent college of the University of London. The college has three faculties, 18 academic departments, and about 8,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students from over 130 different countries...
to form a single institution within the University of London. The merger was called off in a joint statement by the two colleges' principals on 25 September 2009. St George's intends to keep working with Royal Holloway in the field of health and social care along with its well-established Joint Faculty with Kingston University. St George's, Kingston University and Royal Holloway will continue to collaborate in the field of health and social care as part of the existing SWan (South West London Academic Network) healthcare alliance.
Principals
As of 1 April 2008 Professor Peter KopelmanPeter Kopelman
Peter Graham Kopelman is the Principal of St George's, University of London.Kopelman was educated at Felsted School and studied medicine at St George's Hospital. Professor Kopelman has a long-standing interest in diabetes care and initiated a district-wide scheme for integrated care in east London...
took up the position of Principal of St George's. He replaced Acting Principal Sean Hilton, who took over from Professor Michael Farthing
Michael Farthing
Professor Michael Farthing is a British academic administrator, physician and medical researcher. He is the Vice Chancellor of the University of Sussex, having succeeded Professor Alasdair Smith in September 2007. Prior to his appointment as Vice Chancellor at Sussex, his academic career was in...
, the current Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sussex
University of Sussex
The University of Sussex is an English public research university situated next to the East Sussex village of Falmer, within the city of Brighton and Hove. The University received its Royal Charter in August 1961....
.
- Professor Peter Kopelman (2008 to present)
- Professor Michael Farthing (2003 to 2007)
- Professor Sir Robert Boyd (1996 to 2003)
- Professor Sir William Asscher (1988 to 1996)
- Professor Richard J West (1982 to 1987)
- Professor Robert Lowe (1971 to 1982)
- Professor Alastair Hunter (1956 to 1971)
Student life
The Students' Union (until recently, the School Club) organises various activities including fancy dress discos and a Rag Week, the annual series of fund-raising events, which in the year 2007-2008 raised around £80,000 for various charities including Cancer Research, Barnardos and Leonard Cheshire. Year on year St George's raises more money for charity per capita than any other London medical school. In recent years the Union has become more politically aware and shown greater interest in National Union of Students and British Medical AssociationBritish Medical Association
The British Medical Association is the professional association and registered trade union for doctors in the United Kingdom. The association does not regulate or certify doctors, a responsibility which lies with the General Medical Council. The association’s headquarters are located in BMA House,...
activities.
St George's also has a number of sports clubs including swimming, rowing, volleyball, rugby, football, netball, hockey and many others. In 2007-2008 the Men's and Women's Hockey teams both managed to win their respective ULU Premier Divisions.
Each new student at St George's is assigned a 'mum' or 'dad' in the year above. These 'parents' act as mentors for the new students, giving them advice about the course, often tutoring them when needed, as well as buying them drinks during Freshers' Week and beyond. Over the years the family expands to include siblings, uncles, aunts, grandparents etc., spanning all the years of the various courses.
The university owns one hall of residence, Horton Halls, a large modern site which first opened to new students in late September 2007, replacing St. George's Grove the old hall of residence.
St George's enters a team into the British quiz programme University Challenge
University Challenge
University Challenge is a British quiz programme that has aired since 1962. The format is based on the American show College Bowl, which ran on NBC radio from 1953 to 1957, and on NBC television from 1959 to 1970....
each year.
Notable alumni
- Joseph AdamsJoseph Adams (physician)Joseph Adams M.D. F.L.S. was a British physician and surgeon. His father was a practising apothecary in London, and a rigid dissenter who, because of his religious beliefs, would not allow his son to attend Oxford or Cambridge. He, however, received a good classical education and, having been...
(1756–1818), British physician and surgeon - Sir Benjamin Collins Brodie, English physiologist and surgeon who pioneered research into bone and joint disease
- Walter Butler CheadleWalter Butler CheadleDr. Walter Butler Cheadle was an English paediatrician.Cheadle was educated at Caius College, Cambridge, graduating M.B. in 1861 and then studied medicine at St George's Hospital Medical School in London...
(1836–1910), English paediatrician - Sir John William FisherSir John William Fisher-Life:Fisher, son of Peter Fisher of Perth, by Mary, daughter of James Kennay of York, was born in London 30 January 1788, and apprenticed to John Andrews, a surgeon enjoying a large practice. After studying at St. George's and Westminster Hospitals, he was admitted member of the Royal College of...
(1788–1876), British surgeon - Henry GrayHenry GrayHenry Gray was an English anatomist and surgeon most notable for publishing the book Gray's Anatomy. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society at the age of 25.-Biography:...
FRS (1827–1861), English anatomist and surgeon most notable for publishing the book Gray's Anatomy - Harry HillHarry HillHarry Hill , is a Perrier Award–winning English comedian, author and television presenter. A former medical doctor , Hill began his career in comedy with the popular radio show Harry Hill's Fruit Corner.-Personal life:Hill was born in Woking,...
(1964- ), English BAFTA-winning comedian, author and television presenter - John HunterJohn Hunter (surgeon)John Hunter FRS was a Scottish surgeon regarded as one of the most distinguished scientists and surgeons of his day. He was an early advocate of careful observation and scientific method in medicine. The Hunterian Society of London was named in his honour...
(1728–1793), Scottish surgeon - William HunterWilliam Hunter (anatomist)William Hunter FRS was a Scottish anatomist and physician. He was a leading teacher of anatomy, and the outstanding obstetrician of his day...
(1718–1783), Scottish anatomist and physician - Edward JennerEdward JennerEdward Anthony Jenner was an English scientist who studied his natural surroundings in Berkeley, Gloucestershire...
FRS (1749–1823), English scientist and the first doctor to introduce and study the smallpox vaccineSmallpox vaccineThe smallpox vaccine was the first successful vaccine to be developed. The process of vaccination was discovered by Edward Jenner in 1796, who acted upon his observation that milkmaids who caught the cowpox virus did not catch smallpox... - Christine LeeChristine LeeChristine Lee is an English medical researcher. She is Emeritus Professor of Haemophilia in the University of London, and founding Editor of Haemophilia. She trained in medicine at the University of Oxford, where she was awarded First Class Honours and was the first female scholar of the University...
, Emeritus Professor of Haemophilia in the University of London - Keith McCarthyKeith McCarthy (writer)Keith McCarthy is a pathologist and writer of crime fiction, known for his Eisenmenger-Flemming Forensic Mysteries. He also writes under the name Lance Elliot.- Biography :...
(1960- ), Writer of crime fiction - George PearsonGeorge Pearson (doctor)George Pearson, MD, FRS , physician, chemist and early advocate of Jenner's cowpox vaccination.Davies Gilbert, who was then President of the Royal Society, began his 1829 memoir of Dr. Pearson thus:He continued:...
FRS (1751–1858), physician, chemist and early advocate of Jenner's cowpox vaccination - Paul SinhaPaul SinhaPaul Sinha is a British stand-up comedian and broadcaster. Sinha is openly gay, a subject he has discussed on stage.-Education:Sinha was educated at Dulwich College and St George's Hospital Medical School...
(1970- ), Stand-up comedian - Patrick Christopher Steptoe (1913–1988), British obstetrician, gynaecologist and pioneer of fertility treatment. Responsible for developing in vitro fertilization
- Edward Adrian WilsonEdward Adrian WilsonEdward Adrian Wilson was a notable English polar explorer, physician, naturalist, painter and ornithologist.-Early life:...
(1872–1912), English polar explorer, physician, naturalist, painter and ornithologist - Thomas YoungThomas Young (scientist)Thomas Young was an English polymath. He is famous for having partly deciphered Egyptian hieroglyphics before Jean-François Champollion eventually expanded on his work...
(1773–1829), English polymath
External links
See also
- St. George’s Hospital Medical School RFCSt. George’s Hospital Medical School RFCSt. George’s Hospital Medical School RFC is one of the oldest rugby clubs in the world having been founded in 1863. The side is notable for its long history, its participation in the oldest competition in rugby, the United Hospitals Cup, as well as having produced a large number of international...
- Ops in Surgery, The St George's Surgical SocietyOps in Surgery, The St George's Surgical SocietyOps in Surgery is an official society of the Student's Union at St George's, University of London. The remit of the society is to encourage and promote surgery as a career, with the aim of helping students to develop an interest in the field of surgery and acquire a set of skills and knowledge that...
- Medical school in the United Kingdom