Image credit - University of Sunderland

A medical school which has been backed by Keele University since its inception has been granted a prestigious official status by the General Medical Council (GMC) in a seminal moment for the institution. 

The University of Sunderland’s medical school was announced in 2018, welcoming its first students a year later with the backing of experts from Keele’s own School of Medicine, who advised their colleagues throughout the design and development of the course on things like curriculum and course structure. 

Since then, the school - like all medical schools - has been assessed frequently by the GMC to ensure it reaches the highest standards of medical education, with Keele experts continuing to provide support to ensure Sunderland academics can continue delivering quality medical education. 

Now, at its recent meeting this month, the GMC has agreed to add Sunderland to the list of bodies able to award UK Primary Medical Qualifications, marking a huge milestone for the university and its medical school. 

The accreditation comes at the same time as the School’s first cohort of medical students prepare to graduate as foundation year doctors. 

Professor Scott Wilkes, Head of Sunderland’s Medical School, said: “I’m absolutely delighted that Sunderland University has been awarded Primary Medical Qualification status by the GMC after seven years of unrelenting support from Keele Medical School. 

“In setting out on the project all those years ago I sought out an institution to partner with us that could support me in my vision – to make medicine accessible to students with talent that may not have otherwise had such an opportunity. 

“Keele Medical School, under the leadership of Professor Andy Hassel initially, a native of Sunderland, then Professor Peter Coventry latterly, have been an expert weekly presence for five years. Their support and direction have been a model example of true partnership.” 

Professor Peter Coventry, Dean of Keele University’s School of Medicine, added: “Watching the medical school at Sunderland go from strength to strength has been enormously gratifying, and we are delighted for our colleagues who fully deserve this recognition from the GMC, which will undoubtedly benefit their students and the communities they serve as well. 

“The determination, commitment, and collaborative spirit shown by the team has ensured their success, and we at Keele are enormously proud both of the academic team at Sunderland for their hard work, and to have played a role ourselves in providing our expertise to support them on their journey.”