HISTORY OF JOS UNIVERSITY MEDICAL FACULTY

The first admission of students was in October 1976 when 100 students were admitted to read courses leading to the first professional examination in Medicine.  During the 1976/77 session the following academic staff were appointed:

Professor A. C. Ikeme                (1976): Foundation Dean; and Professor of Medicine.

Professor E. H. Olisa                 (1976): Professor of Pathology.

Professor W. V. Weber              (1977): Professor of Physiology.

Dr. U. P. Isichei                         (1977): Reader in Human Chemistry.

Dr. B. Cowlishaw                        (1977): Senior Lecturer in Human Chemistry.

Mr. S. T. Kay                            (1977): Lecturer in Community Medicine.

Mrs. P. N. Otti                          (1976): Lecturer in Community Medicine.

Under very difficult circumstances; arising from very few teaching staff, incomplete buildings, and lack of adequate teaching equipment, courses leading to the second professional examination commenced in October 1977.  Though there were no full-time lecturers in Anatomy Department then, the department was started through the assistance of Dr. Cummings and Dr. Verbrugge, who were full-time surgeons in Jos, under the direction of Professor Olisa.  With rapid growth of the faculty in successive years, the Nigerian Medical Council gave approval of the courses and facilities for the pre-Clinical School in 1979.  A second visit by the council in 1980 gave provisional approval for the use of the then Murtala Mohammed Hospital, for training medical students.  However both the University and the Teaching Hospital are yet to move to their permanent site.

THE FACULTY TODAY

In its 26 years of existence, the Faculty of Medical Sciences is yet to realize the dreams of being a part of College of Medicine and moving to the Permanent Site of the Teaching Hospital.  Nevertheless, it has made giant strides and achievements in the areas of training, research and services.

The Faculty of Medical Sciences has interim accreditation status as approved by the NUC and the Medical School has been accredited and reaccredited by the Nigerian Medical Council.  The National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria and West African College of Physicians and Surgeons have approved the faculties' postgraduate medical programmes.  The Medical School is listed by the World Health Organization (W.H.O.) and has turned out hundreds of graduates whose quality and skill are second to none.  They are fruitfully employed in Nigeria, in Europe, the Americans and other parts of Afric

Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) has been active in postgraduate professional training through the West African College of Physicians and Surgeons and the National Postgraduate Medical College, thus enabling young doctors acquire specialist experience and expertise for all-round clinical competence.  In these examinations, University of Jos students have many times produced best candidates and the universities' reputation remains high in the Postgraduate colleges.

Through JUTH, the faculty is affiliated to other Nigerian University Teaching Hospitals for the training of Postgraduate doctors.  The Faculty of Medical Sciences and the Teaching Hospital are affiliated to Duke University, New Mexico, USA and Medical School of the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA, while a new affiliation is being developed with John Hopkins Hospital Baltimore, USA.  The Chemical Pathology Department is a reference centre on Micronutrients, for UNICEF.

DEANS OF THE FACULTY

The Faculty of Medical Sciences has so far trained and graduated over 1,000 medical doctors and postgraduates in Physiology and Biochemistry. 

The Faculty graduated the following number of students, from 1982 - 1998.

1982        -       65

1983        -       54

1984        -       90

1985        -     109

1986        -       96

1987        -       76

1988        -       73

1989        -       60

1990        -       83

1991        -       77

1992        -       80

1994        -       85

1995        -       78

1996        -       88

1997        -       78

1998        -     130

TOTAL       =        1322

STUDENT UNIONS AND FOOTBALL CLUB

JOS UNIVERSITY MEDICAL STUDENTS ASSOCIATION (JUMSA)

The Jos University Medical Students' Association (JUMSA) caters for the welfare and professional interest of all students in the faculty.  There is an established line of communication between this students' body, the Faculty Officer, the Dean of the Faculty, the Dean of Students Affairs and the Chief Executive's (Vice-Chancellor's) office.

This association was founded in 1978 and all Registered Medical Students of the Jos Medical School are members.  This association also has its constitution, which an elected executive body under a President carries out.  The current membership is about 600.

The JUMSA football club remained ever active and successful among its various clubs.  The Football Club has won the Inter-faculty Vice-chancellor trophy for many years.  JUMSA has been playing a leading role at national level.  Within the Nigerian Medical Students' Association (NIMSA), it hosted the Presidency of NIMSA in the person of Dr. Imeh John Akpan in 1990-1991.  Presently, JUMSA holds the office of the standing committee of the professional exchange (SCOPE).  Through this office, the University of Jos Medical School has received exchange students from America, Spain, Germany, Netherlands and some other countries of the world.  A vital activity of JUMSA is its health week organized annually.

Its successful health weeks have been organized regularly.  This outreach programme carried out in the rural areas includes: immunization, blood pressure screening, and blood donations among others.

It is our aspiration to see to a healthy nation and excellent medical training.

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