In June 2018, the cantonal electorate clearly approved the proposal for a joint master's programme, run by the University of St.Gallen (HSG) and the University of Zurich and known as the Joint Medical Master (JMM-HSG/UZH) to be offered at HSG. This approval demonstrated public understanding that the concept of medical education is important for the future of the region.At the same time, it paves the way for HSG students who have already begun their studies in human medicine at the University of Zurich. The Joint Medical Master is intended to offer a training course that combines medical knowledge, management and nursing care.
To run the Joint Medical Master, the University established the School of Medicine (Med-HSG); HSG considered it a great opporunity to launch a medical track, thus making a much stronger connection to the growing research sectors of medicine, health and the life sciences.
HSG provides the services within its area of responsibility together with the Cantonal Hospital of St.Gallen as its main partner, together with other hospitals and partners research and education across Eastern Switzerland. A network of hospitals, teaching doctors' practices and educational institutions (including the Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences, St.Gallen) has been build up to cover teaching needs, especially the necessary practical, clinical training, which takes place in the region of St.Gallen/Eastern Switzerland over the entire course of study.
For the autumn semester of 2019, the University of St.Gallen moved into rented offices at St. Jakobstrasse 21, near the Cantonal Hospital and thus a perfect teaching and learning location for the master's programme in Medicine, which will started in the autumn semester of 2020.
Since 1 February 2020, Professor Alexander Geissler has been in charge of further development of the School of Medicine and the management of the Joint Medical Master.