27/09/2011
Mohamed Aly Basha Al Kabeer
Abou Zaibal Military Medical School
The school of medicine was inaugurated in 1827 as a 6-year study program in assembly of the Paris Medical School. The French doctor, Clot Bey, served as the president of the school. In 1837, the School of Medicine was moved from the Abou Zaabal suburb of Cairo to Garden City in 1837. This new site was preferred not only because it could accommodate over 9000 beds and 300 students (at that time), but also because it was situated at the heart of Cairo, compared to the Abou Zaabal suburb, which lies on the outskirts of the Egyptian capital. That same year, the number of graduates had reached 430 doctors. Until 1848, the faculty of medicine had graduated 800 doctors.
When Abbas Pasha came to rule Egypt, he tried to demolish all that was French following the British councillor's advice. As a result, Clot Bey resigned in 1849 and was succeeded by Dr. Duvigneau, followed by Peron Bey and then Shafi Bey, who was the first Egyptian president of the school.
When Khedive Ismail came to rule, the school again progressed rapidly by appointing its second Egyptian director Mohamed Ali El-Bakli Pasha.
In 1925, the school of medicine was incorporated into the Egyptian university and was named the "Faculty of Medicine". The faculty was ready for graduating doctors with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in medicine and surgery, after a study period of five and a half years. The faculty was now capable of granting a doctorate in medicine.
In 1927, it was decided that a new hospital consisting of 1200 beds and a modern medical school should be established. King Fouad laid the foundation of the new faculty and its hospital on December 16, 1928.
The advancement and expansion continued throughout the following years by establishing different units that were both scientifically distinguished and technically equipped with the latest modern instruments and devices.
