Greetings from the Dean

Hokkaido University School of Medicine was established in 1919 as the School of Medicine of Hokkaido Imperial University. It is one of Japan’s most prestigious medical schools, boasting a rich history and tradition, and celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2019. To date, the school has produced some 10,000 graduates of whom around 6,500 are currently active as physicians, medical researchers, and other professionals across Japan and the world.

In 2017, education at the School of Medicine was revamped to enhance clinical training of 5th- and 6th-year students, launching a hands-on clinical training program with the cooperation of more than 50 hospitals in Hokkaido. To promote further medical education reform, a curriculum committee with student participation was established, and students are cooperating with faculty to achieve interactive educational system reform. In October 2022, the School of Medicine was assessed by the Japan Accreditation Council for Medical Education, and received certification as meeting international medical education standards. Receiving external accreditation for the quality of education at the School of Medicine is crucial to further promote student exchange programs abroad and support graduates wishing to pursue medical careers overseas.

The Graduate School of Medicine was established in 1955. The graduate school functions as an integrated entity that combines both educational and research functions. Since the incorporation of national universities, however, the University introduced a global graduate education system designed to flexibly respond to changing social circumstances and student needs. Under this system, graduate students belong to a graduate school, while faculty members belong to a faculty, which are independently established, but designed to collaborate with each other. In 2017, the former Graduate School of Medicine was reorganized into two independent entities: the Graduate School of Medicine and the Faculty of Medicine.

Graduate students attending the Graduate School of Medicine receive research guidance by participating in cutting-edge medical research carried out collaboratively by faculty members of the Faculty of Medicine and other faculties in the University. This not only provides graduate students with a high-quality educational environment, but also contributes to the advancement of both the Graduate School of Medicine and the Faculty of Medicine. Cutting-edge research performed at the Faculty of Medicine is indispensable to education at the Graduate School of Medicine. It also contributes to the philosophy of the Graduate School of Medicine: “to lead the world with cutting-edge research in medical science, and equip the next generation of medical researchers and medical professionals with a strong sense of ethics and a well-rounded character to contribute to the health and welfare of humanity.” By receiving tuition by faculty members of the Faculty of Medicine who are actively conducting cutting-edge research, students at the Graduate School of Medicine are expected to achieve the educational goal of “helping students develop advanced levels of knowledge and research skills in the fields of medical and life sciences and profound insight that can meet the needs of society.”

Amidst the rapid changes in the social environment surrounding universities, we aim to continually develop the Faculty of Medicine and the Graduate School of Medicine with a clear vision of the future of education, research, and clinical practice. In this way, we will contribute to Hokkaido University’s pursuit of excellence through the deepening of knowledge and the extension of research results through community collaboration.