Bute Medical School

Infobox_University
name =Bute Medical School
latin_name =


established =1899
type =Medical school
dean=Prof. R. Hugh MacDougall
head_label=Deputy Head of School
head =Prof. Andrew Riches
endowment =
staff =54
faculty =
free_label =
free =
students =400
undergrad =
postgrad =
doctoral =
colours =

city =St Andrews
state =Fife
country =Scotland
campus =
affiliations =University of St Andrews
website = [http://medicine.st-andrews.ac.uk/ 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

The early medical school

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

From the 17th to the 19th 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, the first being conferred in 1696. 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. 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, although it has now become a chair of physiology.

In the early 19th century, examinations were introduced. Students had to visit St Andrews to sit them, but there was no teaching at the university.

The founding of the Bute Medical School

In 1897, as Rector of the University of St Andrews, the 3rd Marquess of Bute, in addition to his provident restorations of other university buildings, initiated the construction of the current Bute Medical Buildings, south of St Mary's College, 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".

The St Andrews-Dundee course

In 1898, the University of St Andrews created the University College Dundee. Together, the Bute Medical School and clinical facilities at University College Dundee formed a conjoint medical school. Medical students could undertake their pre-clinical teaching at the Bute Medical School in St Andrews and then complete clinical training in Dundee. Students were awarded the degree of MB ChB by the University of St Andrews.

In 1954, University College changed its name to Queen's College, but remained part of the University of St Andrews.

In August 1967, following recommendations by the Robbins Report, the "Universities (Scotland) Act 1966" came into force. This granted independent university status to the University of Dundee, separating Queen's College from the University of St Andrews. In many respects, the medical school at the University of Dundee inherited 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, including the MB ChB and MD.

The link with Manchester Medical School

In order to continue to be able to teach medicine, St Andrews therefore established a new link with the English University of Manchester, in 1970 which was at that time seeking to enlarge its medical school. Students completed a three-year BSc in medical science at St Andrews, and could optionally complete an extra intercalated year for the award of BSc Hons at St Andrews, before completing their 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.

Since 2002, there has also been the option of completing clinical training at Keele University Medical School in Stoke-on-Trent, and around twenty St Andrews graduates each year between 2002-2006 have gone to Keele University.

Recent history

Major changes to the curriculum were made in 2000 with increased emphasis on psychology and cellular biology in the course.

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 or up to 5 years of part-time research, which had been removed by the "Universities (Scotland) Act 1966". The first MD since 1967 was awarded in 2004.

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 about a link with University of Edinburgh have taken place.

The Board for Academic Medicine under Sir David Carter was established and tasked with, amongst other things, the implementation of these plans. Sir David, Professor Hugh MacDougall (dean of medicine at the Bute) and Simon Guild (director of teaching) surveyed the capacity of other medical schools to accept St Andrews medical students and plans were drawn up as follows:50 students to go to the Glasgow medical school30 students to go to Edinburgh10 to Dundee10 to Aberdeen

80 further students would continue to go to Manchester. This will begin with a phased introduction - of the students starting their St Andrews careers in 2007, 55 will progress to Scottish medical schools.

A new style of teaching

Since September 2005, the Bute Medical School has offered a Bachelor of Science with honours in Medical Science (BSc Hons Med Sci). The new curricula allow for an honours degree to be attained after three years' study.

A further three years' study is required to receive a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MB, ChB), and requires 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 case-based learning. Examination methods include multiple-choice questions, short answers, and essays in written exams and OSPEs (Objective Structured Practical Exam).

Facilities

The School is housed in the Bute Medical Buildings, which houses a dissecting room; an anatomy museum and pathology resource centre, containing preserved specimens and appropriate models; a computer laboratory; lecture theatres; seminar rooms and two clinical skills laboratories.

A new medical building is being constructed in the North Haugh adjacent to other science buildings,. In addition to allowing collaboration with other faculties and updating lab facilities, the building will provide for larger class sizes - 180 students per year are currently planned.

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 research into molecular endocrinology, and some research in conjunction with research groups in the School of Physics, the School of Biology, and the Centre of Biomolecular Science.

The 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" (an initiation into the medical school for enthusiastic first years) as well as organising a variety of social events including the Bute Ball, a charity pub crawl, sports events and the hilarious "Bute Revue".

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

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:

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

The Bute Chair

The "Bute Chair" was established by John Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute in 1898. Holders of the "Bute Chair" are known as "Bute Professors". These include:
*"1901-1914" James Musgrove
*"1946-1973" Robert Walmsley
*"1973-1996" David Brynmor Thomas
*"2003-" Robert Hugh MacDougall

External links

* [http://medicine.st-and.ac.uk/ The Bute Medical School]
* [http://www.st-and.ac.uk/index.shtml The University of St Andrews]
* [http://www.butemedics.co.uk/home.htm The Bute Medical Society]
* [http://medicine.st-and.ac.uk/prospectus/index.php Information for Prospective Students]
* [http://medicine.st-and.ac.uk/research/docs/ritchie/DBBackground.pdf Phyto-oestrogen database constructed and validated by Dr. Margaret R. Ritchie, member of the "Cancer Biology Group, Social Dimensions of Health Institute Diet and Cancer Initiative", Bute Medical School]
* [http://www.medschoolguide.co.uk/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=52 "Med School Guide.co.uk" Forum]
* [http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=351027&y=716466&z=0&sv=KY16+9TS&st=2&pc=KY16+9TS&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf Map]