The First Stage: From the establishment of Canton Hospital Medical School in 1866 to before the college adjustment in the early days of liberation (1866 - 1953)1866～1953

In 1866, Peter Parker, an American missionary and diplomat, established Canton Hospital Medical School in Guangzhou. Dr. Sun Yat-sen once studied medicine and engaged in revolutionary activities here. Later, Canton Hospital Medical School was merged into Lingnan University, and the Medical School of Lingnan University was established. Subsequently, it absorbed the private Hackett Medical College for Women. Later, the private Hackett Medical College for Women was also merged into the Medical School of Lingnan University.

Another important origin of Sun Yat-sen School of Medicine was Guangdong Public Medical School established in 1909. Guangdong Public Medical School later developed into Guangdong Public Medical University and was incorporated into National Guangdong University. With the renaming of the university, it became the Medical School of Sun Yat-sen University.

The Second Stage: From the college adjustment in the early days of liberation to before the merger of the two universities in 2001 (1953 - 2001)1953～2001

In 1953, at the beginning of liberation, with the national college adjustment, the Medical School of Lingnan University and the Medical School of Sun Yat-sen University were merged to form South China Medical College. Subsequently, Guangdong Guanghua Medical College was also incorporated into South China Medical College. Since then, South China Medical College was successively renamed Guangzhou Medical College, Sun Yat-sen School of Medicine, and Sun Yat-sen Medical University, and the School of Basic Medical Sciences of Sun Yat-sen Medical University was established. During this stage, under the leadership of the famous medical educator Ke Lin, Sun Yat-sen School of Medicine established a complete modern medical education system. It had a number of masters and renowned experts who had great influence in the medical field at home and abroad. Teaching, scientific research, and medical treatment achieved great development, and it became the highest medical institution in Central and South China and one of the six national key medical colleges affiliated with the Ministry of Health.
 

In the 1960s, Sun Yat-sen School of Medicine had eight national first-class professors, namely Liang Boqiang, Xie Zhiguang, Chen Xintao, Chen Yaozhen, Qin Guangyu, Lin Shumo, Zhou Shoukai, and Zhong Shifan, who were known as the "Eight Great Vajras". At that time, there were only 33 first-class professors in the whole country, which shows the status of Sun Yat-sen School of Medicine back then. Now, on the second floor of the Medical Library on the North Campus, there are oil paintings of the eight first-class professors and President Ke Lin on display.
 

Professor Chen Xintao made outstanding achievements in the prevention and treatment of schistosomiasis and was received by Chairman Mao Zedong twice.

The Third Stage: Since the merger of the two universities in 2001 (2001 - present)2001～present

With the reform of the national higher medical education management system, medical education in comprehensive universities was restored. In October 2001, the former Sun Yat-sen University and Sun Yat-sen Medical University were merged to form the new Sun Yat-sen University, and Sun Yat-sen School of Medicine of Sun Yat-sen University was established. Our college has entered a brand-new stage of development.

Sun Yat-sen School of Medicine ranks among the top of its kind in China in terms of discipline construction, scientific research, talent cultivation, laboratory scale, and experimental instruments and equipment. It has become a base for basic medical teaching, scientific research, and technological development with a complete range of disciplines, excellent basic conditions, strong teaching and research forces, and certain influence at home and abroad.