[4] Notable doctors associated with the York school included John Hughlings Jackson (in whose honour the modern medical school building at the University of York is named), Daniel Hack Tuke, Thomas Laycock (physiologist), James Atkinson (surgeon), and Sir Jonathan Hutchinson.

The founding of a medical school as part of the University of Hull was considered in the Report of the Royal Commission on Medical Education 1965–68 (Todd Report) (published 1968), but the idea was not thought viable until the Humber Bridge was completed, as it would enable students to travel to placements in South Lincolnshire.

Therefore a bid was submitted by the universities of Hull and York, and the NHS in the year 2000 to establish a medical school in this region.

[6] The University of Hull at that time had the largest free-standing postgraduate medical school in England whilst the University of York had the largest group of health policy researchers in the world and a strong reputation in science; with particular specialisms in cancer research, neuroscience and tissue repair.

[7] This is evidenced by the number of prominent alumni in science and healthcare of both universities such as George William Gray CBE FRS (chemist), Christian Langton (medical physicist), Barry John Everitt FRS FMedSci (neuroscientist, emeritus professor of Behavioural Neuroscience and Director of Research at the University of Cambridge), Dame Sarah Catherine Gilbert DBE FRS (vaccinologist and professor of Vaccinology at the University of Oxford), Tanya Byron (psychologist and media personality), Jane Clarke (biophysical chemist and retired professor at the University of Cambridge), Professor Dame Caroline Dean DBE FRS (scientist), Nelson Teich (oncologist and former Minister of Health for Brazil) and Christopher Dye FRS FMedSci (biologist, ecologist and former Director of Strategy at the World Health Organization) to name but a few.

In Phase III (Year 5), students continue with clinical placement rotations throughout the region, in primary and secondary care settings.

In this phase, a greater emphasis is placed on being a member of a multidisciplinary medical team, and gaining experience of on-call and out-of-hours duties.

It was opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2017 and also won in the Buildings That Inspire category in The Guardian’s University Awards 2018.

[13] The Hull York Medical School Building (University of York campus), has undergone refurbishment in recent years where facilities include a new problem based learning suite, a collaborative learning space, and provision of new clinical skills spaces nearby in the Seebohm Rowntree Building.