The Faculty of Medicine of Damascus University (), founded in 1903, was the first university college established in Syria. The school moved to Beirut temporarily during World War I. At one point later it was called the Arab Medical Institute. History The College of Medicine is the centre of the University of Damascus. It was founded in 1903 when the medical school opened up branches in medicine and pharmacy following the Ottomans. The Ottoman Medical School in Damascus 1901 For both the civilian and the military hospitals of the city of Damascus Medical Institute, Dr. Rida Saïd was elected chairman in 1920. In 1924 the publication of the Medical Journal of the Arab Institute began. From its earliest days the Institute and Dr. Rida Saïd saw the need not just to train Syrians, but also many young men and women from across the Arab world. On average, half of the students were non-Syrian. In the 1950s over half the doctors in the Mashreq were graduates of the institute. The university widened its remit after the evacuation of the French in 1946. The Institute began faculties of medicine. It had all the lecture halls and laboratories necessary for teaching. The college issued a doctor of medicine, bachelor of pharmacy, doctor of dental medicine and a certificate in nursing and midwifery in obstetrics. Successive reforms after 1946 have expanded the school and increased the number of students considerably. An act promulgated in 1958 during the unity of Egypt and Syria amended the Syrian name to the University of Damascus. Scientific research The College of Medicine adopts a strategy of scientific research by the Ministry of Higher Education in cooperation with various governmental bodies. Contributing members of the faculty in the College of Medicine are an important part of science activities as established annually by the Supreme Council for Science of the Ministry of Higher Education. The research presented in the course of medical researchers, as well as new faculty members are allowed access to translated research acquired through doctorates from the university to the Arab world. This translation is provided with identity cards required with faculty membership. This is important in the Arabization of science and research: It is believed research in the mother tongue should be accessible to a large segment of beneficiaries. University hospitals and educational facilities There are 6 main University Hospitals that are run by the Ministry of