Bute Medical School

Bute Medical School

Established	1899
Location	St Andrews, Fife, Scotland
University	University of St Andrews
Dean	Prof R Hugh MacDougall
Head of School	Prof Andrew Riches
Staff	65
Undergraduates	400
Website	http://medicine.st-andrews.ac.uk

The Bute Medical School is the school of medicine at the University of St Andrews in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland.

History

Medicine was the third subject to be taught at St Andrews, and has been studied within St Salvator's College, and later the United College of St Salvator and St Leonard, since then. Bishop Kennedy founded St Salvator's College in 1450, confirmed by a Papal Bull in 1458.

From the seventeenth to the nineteenth centuries, medical degrees from St Andrews were awarded by an early version of distance learning. The university awarded the degree of MD to individuals who were usually already established in medical practice. This degree was awarded on the basis of a testimonial written by a supervisor, and a fee was paid to the university. The whole process was conducted through the post, and the candidate did not have to visit the University at all. Recipients of the MD at this time include the infamous French Revolutionary, Jean-Paul Marat (1743 – 1793), who obtained his MD in 1775 for an essay on gonorrhea, and Edward Jenner (1749 - 1823), who developed the first smallpox vaccine, and was awarded the MD in 1792.

In 1721, whilst Chancellor of the University, James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos established the Chandos Chair of Medicine and Anatomy, to fund the appointment of a Professor of Medicine and Anatomy at the university, and Thomas Simson was appointed as the first Chandos Professor. The Chandos Chair still exists today, although it has now become a chair of physiology.

In the early nineteenth century, examinations were introduced. This meant that students had to visit St Andrews to take these; however they did not receive any teaching at the university.

In 1897, as Rector of the University of St Andrews, the honourable 3rd Marquess of Bute, of Mount Stuart - in addition to his provident restorations of other university buildings - initiated the construction of the current Bute Medical Buildings, south of St Mary's Quadrangle, completed in 1899. These provided for the establishment of a regular medical school, which both taught and examined medical students. The 3rd Marquess of Bute also provided for the establishment of a new chair of medicine - the Bute Chair of Medicine.

It was abundantly clear, however, that St Andrews was far too small, and possesed too minute a patient base, the act as a clinical medical school. Accordingly, in 1897, University College Dundee (which had been founded in 1881 in the nearby and much larger city of Dundee) merged with the University of St Andrews. Together, they organised the new medical degree. Prospective medical students applying to study at St Andrews could choose either to undertake their pre-clinical teaching at the Bute Medical School in St Andrews or at University College Dundee, and then they subsequently did all of their clinical training in considerably larger Dundee, located nearby across the famous Tay Railway Bridge. In 1954, University College Dundee changed its name to Queen's College, but remained part of the University of St Andrews.

In 1967, the Universities (Scotland) Act 1966 came into force. This act split Queen's College from the University of St Andrews, with Queen's College becoming the University of Dundee. In many respects, the medical school at the University of Dundee is the true and direct inheritor of the medical traditions of St Andrews University.

As the clinical medical school (along with other parts of the University of St Andrews including the Law faculty) had been based in Dundee, this left St Andrews with no clinical medical school or teaching hospital. The Universities (Scotland) Act 1966 also removed the University of St Andrews's right to award undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in medicine. In order to continue to be able to teach medicine, St Andrews therefore established a new link with the English University of Manchester (which was at that time seeking to enlarge its medical school) - and students who had completed a three year BSc in Medical Science, or a four year BSc(Hons) in Medical Science at St Andrews, proceeded to complete clinical training at the University of Manchester - with the final MB ChB awarded by Manchester. This arrangement has been under threat many times over the years.

While the Universities (Scotland) Act 1966 had removed the university's right to award both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in medicine, in 2002 the Scottish Parliament passed the University of St Andrews (Postgraduate Medical Degrees) Act 2002 which re-instated the university's right to award the postgraduate research degree of Medicinae Doctor (MD) to students who have completed two years of full time research or up to 5 years of part-time research. The first MD since 1967 was awarded in 2004.

A new style of teaching

The Bute Medical School offers a degree in Medical Science - Bachelor of Science in Medical Science (a BSc Med Sci). Until 2005, the 3 year general course, or 4 year Bachelor of Science in Medical Science with Honours (BSc Hons) was available. The new curricula allows for an honours degree to be attained after 3 years study.

A further 3 years study is required to receive a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MB, ChB) and required training at a University that supports a clinical course. The course therefore takes an extra year in comparison to other Scottish universities.

Teaching methods include lectures and practical classes, utilising "self-directed learning" and "problem based learning". Examination methods include negatively-marked multiple-choice questions, short answers and essays in written exams and OSPEs (Objective Structured Practical Exam).

Facilities

The School includes a thorough anatomy museum, containing preserved specimens and appropriate models, a new computer laboratory, excellent lecture theatres, and two clinical skills laboratories.

Future Development Plans

Clinical training

Only the pre-clinical part of medical training was completed in St Andrews. In 1967 St Andrews was no longer affiliated with the University of Dundee - which was in the past one of her colleges - where medical students could continue their clinical training in Ninewells Hospital. 'St Andrews Medics' now complete their clinical training at another medical school (with affiliated teaching hospital), notably the University of Manchester Medical School in neighbouring England, to which the Bute Medical School has had link since 1967. Since 2002, there has also been the option of completing clinical training at Keele University Medical School in Stoke-on-Trent. In 2004, Prof Sir Kenneth Calman's report into medical education recommended that medical graduates from St Andrews should remain in Scotland to complete their clinical medical education, and arising out of this, discussions of a link with University of Edinburgh have occurred.

Research

Research at the Bute Medical School is mainly in the area of cancer. This includes research groups looking at predisposition to cancer, the influence of diet on cancer, the role of Human Papillomavirus in the development of cancer, and psychological aspects of oral cancers. There is also some research going on into molecular endocrinology, and some research going on in conjunction with research groups in the School of Physics, the School of Biology, and the Centre of Biomolecular Science.

The Bute Medical Society

Main Article: Bute Medical Society The notorious Bute Medical Society has a long and prestigious history. It was formed in 1915 by six bejants and bejantines, with the aim of providing clinical lectures in an otherwise non-clinical course, which it still does today with bi-monthly 'Cheese and Wines'. It has many proud and long standing traditions such as the Hecklings as well as organising a variety of social events including the Bute Ball, a charity pub crawl, sports events and the hilarious Bute Review.

The small size of the school allows the students, and the staff, to get to know one-another well.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine

In 2005, students began the university's first society dedicated to the promotion of complementary and alternative medicine. A special study module (SSM) on Complementary and Alternative Medicine is also offered.

Academic Dress

St Andrews undergraduate medical students are members of the United College of St Salvator and St Leonard, and as such wear the scarlet gown with burgundy velvet collar for official academic occasions. They graduate as a BSc or BSc(Hons) and so wear a black gown with a fuschia hood trimmed with white fur. On graduation from Manchester they are entitled to wear a black gown with scarlet hood trimmed with white fur, and black cap.

When postgraduate students graduate with the MD degree, they wear a black gown with a crimson hood with a white lining, alternatively they may wear a crimson gown.

Famous Alumni

Past medical students at the University of St Andrews have included:

Sir Douglas Black (MB ChB 1933) ''Author of the Black Report; former President of the Royal College of Physicians
Sir James Black (MB ChB 1946) ''Inventor of Propanolol; Nobel Prize winner; Chancellor of the University of Dundee

Contact

Bute Medical School email: medicine@st-andrews.ac.uk

The Secretary The Bute Medical School University of St Andrews Bute Building St Andrews KY16 9TS

External links

Schools of Medicine in Scotland | University of St Andrews | Education in Fife

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