The University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery (USTFMS) is the medical school of the University of Santo Tomas, the oldest and largest Catholic university in Manila, Philippines.

Established in 1871, the faculty is the first medical school in the Philippines. It is proclaimed to be a Center of Excellence by the Commission on Higher Education.

In 2018, LEAPMed, a special preparatory course for the UST medicine program was offered to a limited number of highly exceptional high school graduates ranking among the Top 200 of the University entrance exams, taught completely under the supervision of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery

History

Petition for the establishment of colleges dedicated to medicine and pharmacy started in 1682,Dayrit, C., P. D. S. Ocampo, E.R. de la Cruz (2002). "History of Philippine Medicine 1899-1999 with Landmarks in World Medical History." Manila: Anvil Publishing Sixty-one years after the foundation of the university. In November 22 of the same year, the Spanish granted the petition but nothing came of it due to financial and technical difficulties. By 1785, the Dominican Friars put it on the priority list and despite the enthusiasm of Governor General Mariano Folgueras, the planned colleges failed to materialize until the late 19th century.

The faculty was founded in 1871 as the Facultad de Medicina y Farmacia by virtue of the modified Moret Decree of 1870 which supplants the Philippine educational reforms of 1865 by the Spanish Government.Rodriguez, L. OP (1971). A Century of Progress or The First One Hundred Years of the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Santo Tomas Dedicated to the Service of the Nation Through Pharmaceutical Education. Manila: unpublished thesis The original Moret Decree calls for the secularization of the university to be renamed as "Universidad de Filipinas," Upon the protests of religious groups, parents and the Archdiocese of Manila, the decree was modified to remove the inimical provisions. The modified decree was approved and promulgated on October 29, 1875, by the Governor General of the Islands, Don Rafael Izquierdo.

The faculty was eventually associated with Colegio de San Jose as both were suffering from lack of financial support. Both institutions were saved by Dr. Esteban Rodriguez de Figueroa's last will and testament which stated that his wealth be given to the Society of Jesus. The haciendas of Colegio de San Jose were turned over to the University of Santo Tomas as ordered by Governor General Domingo Moriones y Muralla in 1879. These were returned to the Society of Jesus in 1910 which was to fund a seminary now known as the San Jose Seminary.

From 1871 until 1927, the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery conducted its classes in the Intramuros campus of the University of Santo Tomas. It was also associated with the San Juan de Dios Hospital which functioned as the faculty's clinical arm as decreed by King Alfonso of Spain on October 29, 1875. This setup continued until 1941 when the Japanese took over Quezon Institute and transferring all of its medical staff and patients to San Juan de Dios Hospital. Clinical training during this time was in partnership with Saint Paul Hospital in Intramuros until the walled city's destruction during the Liberation of Manila.

After the war, the entire school moved to the present campus, occupying the four-story building it now resides in. Today, the Medicine Building, later renamed the St. Martin de Porres Building, features eleven lecture halls, seven laboratories, a dissection hall, an Ossarium, the Medicine Museum, and the Anatomy and Pathology galleries. It also includes a large 1,200-seat auditorium, a 350-seat Continuing Medical Education auditorium, a medical library, a learning resources unit, a building for the Research Center for the Health Sciences, and numerous shared classrooms with the UST College of Nursing and the UST College of Rehabilitation Sciences.

With the reopening of the faculty in Sampaloc campus, it experienced substantial growth. In 1932, the faculty began to accept female students and by 1937, about 30 women physicians graduated.

The faculty consistently ranks among the top performing medical schools in the country.

Historical Timeline +YearHistorical Notes1682The Spanish government granted the petition of the University to establish a College of Medicine and Pharmacy but financial and technical difficulties were plentiful.1871The local government ordered the establishment of the Facultad de Medicina y Farmacia during the term of Rector Magnificus Domingo Treserra, O.P., Dr. Rafael Ginard was the first dean. The school offered a 6-year course (1 preparatory instruction, 5 years medicine proper) leading to a Licentiate in Medicine.1875The medical school started affiliation with the San Juan de Dios Hospital for clinical training, by decree of King Alfonso of Spain.1876The first commencement exercises were held on 10 March 1877, three Spaniards and four Filipinos graduated.1878 - 1882Jose Rizal, present-day national hero of the Philippines, was granted by the University the rare privilege of studying simultaneously the Curso de Ampliación (Preparatory Course of Medicine) and the First Year of Medicine. On his last year, among seven students, Rizal ranked second in class.1902After the Philippine-American War, the university adapts to the American System, and the licentiate in Medicine becomes the Doctor of Medicine degree.1927On completion of the Main Building in the new campus on España, first and second year medical classes were transferred from Intramuros.1932In compliance with orders of the Congregation of Studies of the Holy See, the first women students were admitted. This class of 30 graduated in 1937. 1941The Santo Tomas Journal of Medicine, also known as the UST Journal of Medicine publishes its first volume, under the leadership of its first Editor-in-Chief, Dean Bonifacio Mencias.1942In the Japanese Occupation of the Philippines, the Imperial Japanese Army occupied San Juan de Dios Hospital. Clinical instruction was transferred to St. Paul's Hospital.1945After the Battle of Manila, the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery moved its operations to the España campus1946The Charity Division of the University Hospital opened at the old UST High School Building and on March 7, the Pay Division was established at its present site, formerly the Education Building. 1947The Santo Tomas Journal of Medicine resumes publication after 6 years of inactivity.1948Classes of the medical school were scattered at the old High School Building, the Main Building and a quonset hut beside the printing press.1951Construction of the rear, east and west wings of the San Martin de Porres building (then "Medicine Building") was started. Architect Julio Victor Rocha designed the building. It was inaugurated on September 27, 1952.1958The front and center wings of the San Martin de Porres (then "Medicine Building") building was completed.1965The University Hospital’s Clinical Division on Forbes St. was constructed during the rectorship of Fr. Jesus Diaz, O.P. It was blessed and inaugurated by Rufino J. Cardinal Santos of Manila.1970Pope Paul VI, in his sojourn to the country, addressed the Asian Bishop’s Conference that convened at the Medicine Auditorium.1979The Medicine Building which also houses the College of Nursing and Institute of Physical Therapy was renamed St. Martin de Porres Building on February 8.1982Establishment of Dr. Hubert Wong Learning Resources Unit on September 24, 19821984Establishment of Health Science Research Management Group in August 1984. Improved the organizational structure by establishing the Department of Medical Education.1992The Continuing Medical Education (CME) Auditorium was constructed and inaugurated.1993The construction and inauguration of the Experimental Surgery Building and installation of the Electron Microscopy Unit and establishment of Molecular Biology Unit.1995The International Youth Forum was held at the Continuing Medical Education Auditorium of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery on January 5–10.1998The Faculty of Medicine and Surgery hosted the 9th Biennial Meeting of the International Association of Catholic Medical Schools held at the Continuing Medical Education Auditorium on February 4–7. 1999The Integrated Curriculum was introduced. These involved the integration and synchronization of topics taken in various courses in the first, second and third year levels (horizontal integration). The graduate-level degree, Master of Science in Clinical Audiology was introduced.2001Implementation of the Innovative Curriculum using the Problem Based Learning (PBL) approach for two (2) consecutive years (2001-2003). Expansion of Medical Informatics Center (formerly LRU) and establishment of the Health Science Research Management Group (HSRMG).2003Traditional (subject based) curriculum re-implemented with more integration of subjects in all year levels. HSRMG become the Research Center for Health Sciences (RCHS).2008The Master's program for Pain Management was introduced.2012The Department of Medical Education completes the integration of ultrasound in both the basic and clinical subjects, the first Ultrasound-integrated medical curriculum in the Philippines.2013Completion of the four-storey Skills and Simulan Center for the Health Sciences (SSCHS), housing the Surgical Skills Facility (SSF), Life Support Science Laboratory, Ultrasound Laboratory, and the Clinical Skills Facility (CSF).2017After the last publication of the Santo Tomas Journal of Medicine in 2005, the Journal of Medicine UST (JMUST), the present-day journal of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery published its first volume of research work.2018The 6-year accelerated program for medicine, the Learning Enhanced Accelerated Program for Medicine conferring the Bachelor of Science in Basic Human Studies was introduced, along with the Ladderized Master's in Public Health program made in collaboration with the University of Leeds.2024UST inaugurates the Saints Cosmas and Damian Center for Simulation and Research, also known as Henry Sy Sr. Hall.

Academics The faculty offers the four-year Doctor of Medicine degree, a comprehensive professional academic program which combines lectures, case analyses, and practical simulation exercises. The entire curriculum focuses on the basic, clinical, and emergency medical sciences. Teaching methods make use of both classic and modern medical practices and technologies.

In 2001, the faculty adopted the problem-based learning method for use in the curriculum.Med students now approve PBL The Varsitarian. Vol. LXXIV, No. 2 • July 10, 2002 The move was highly controversial. Several professors complained that the medical students were not learning the basic sciences adequately. In 2003, the curriculum format combined elements of both traditional (lecture-based) and problem-based methods. Contrary to what was expected as a decline in the quality of the learning of students by some faculty members, the first and second batches of PBL-trained physicians garnered 92% & 96% passing percentages, respectively. This data complemented the 10-year study on outcome improvements using PBL conducted at Harvard School of Medicine from 1994 to 2004.

The graduating students undergo a series of written and oral exams known as the revalida, a qualifying examination prior to graduation. In the oral examinations, groups of three students each are questioned by panels composed of three professors on basic, clinical, and emergency medical sciences. Passing the revalida is a prerequisite to graduation. Medical school graduates qualify to take the licensure exams for physicians conducted by the Board of Medicine, and under the control and supervision of the Professional Regulation Commission of the Philippines.