Founded in 1876, the Faculty of Medicine is one of the nine faculties that make up the University of Geneva today. From its very inception — which coincided with the formalisation of the University as we know it today — it stands out for a tradition of academic excellence and a constant drive to innovate, both scientifically and pedagogically. At the heart of an international city renowned for its humanitarian commitment, the Faculty carries out its teaching, research and outreach missions closely attuned to global health challenges.

Over the decades, this institution has trained generations of physicians, researchers and healthcare professionals who have shaped the history of medicine. Today, alongside its natural partner, the Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), it cares for the population and advances research. But its influence extends well beyond Switzerland’s borders: it collaborates with the world’s leading research centres and actively contributes to debates on contemporary health challenges, such as pandemics, climate change or technological innovation.

The 150^th anniversary of the Faculty of Medicine is an invitation to discover, understand and engage. It is an opportunity to shed a light on the daily work of thousands of people who dedicate themselves to their studies, to teaching, to research, or to the countless tasks that keep this vast hive of activity running smoothly. It is also a moment for collective reflection on the challenges ahead: the role of medicine in society, the place of artificial intelligence, the fight against misinformation are questions that concern us all. By opening its doors and sharing its knowledge, the Faculty reminds us that health is a common good.

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Opening lecture: launching the year with the mystery of dreams

On 17 February, the opening lecture of the UNIGE spring semester gave the floor to Sophie Schwartz, a neuroscientist specialising in the study of brain mechanisms related to sleep, emotion and cognition, and to Lampros Perogamvros, a psychiatrist specialising in sleep and dreams. Together, they explored that singular territory where our brain shifts each night. At the crossroads of neuroscience and psychiatry, the lecture shed light on the links between dreaming and the waking state, their strong emotional charge, and their role in emotional wellbeing. 

The lecture series brought by the Geneva Medical Society (SMGe)

The Geneva Medical Society (SMGe) has joined forces with the Faculty of Medicine to offer a series of public lectures exploring the medical profession through philosophical, historical, sociological and ethical lenses. Topics include community immersion in medical education, the role of artificial intelligence in healthcare, and the fight against medical misinformation. These free, open-to-all lectures are designed to be accessible to curious audiences with no prior medical knowledge.

Film Club: Medicine on the Big Screen

In March, we head to the cinema. The university film club is opening its programme to the medical humanities, exploring representations of medicine and health through the 7th art. “White Coats and Silver Screens” is a unique opportunity to explore the intersection of fiction and medical reality, and to engage in dialogue around the questions raised by the films screened. From Bergman to Cronenberg, including the very recent (2025) On the Front Line by Petra Volpe, the programme promises to be wonderfully varied!

Video capsules: a peek behind the scenes

Every Thursday, a new video capsule opens the doors of the laboratories, introducing the research teams, lecturers, students, and all those who keep the Faculty running day to day. These videos highlight the diversity of backgrounds and career paths within the Faculty. Viewers meet passionate researchers who devote their lives to unravelling the mysteries of disease, students driven by the desire to heal, technicians whose painstaking work is essential to the smooth running of the laboratories, and lecturers who are reinventing medical pedagogy. Partners are also featured, as an essential link in the functioning of such an institution.

A photography competition to capture the essence of the Faculty!

A photography competition invites the entire Faculty community to share their artistic vision of medicine through the lens or the graphic palette. A jury will select the most outstanding works, and the public will be able to vote for their favourite shots. From summer onwards, an exhibition will be displayed on the walls of the CMU (Centre medical universitaire), offering a precious testament to the people who inhabit it.

Open doors: discover the Faculty from the inside

In June, the Faculty of Medicine opens its doors to the public for an exceptional day of discovery. Visit the laboratories, meet the researchers, attend demonstrations, brush up on your first aid skills, and immerse yourself in the fascinating world of biomedical research and medical education. A unique opportunity to discover the inner workings of an institution at the service of the people of Geneva.