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.

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.

[4] Eventually, in 1864, the university purchased 43 acres in Gilmorehill £65,000,[4] leaving the old site available for the construction of College Goods Station.

Facilities include areas for developing clinical skills and a fully equipped ward housed in the award-winning Wolfson Medical School Building.

The themes covered in this section include homeostasis, basic anatomy, physiology and biochemistry, and the fundamentals of health and illness in communities.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.