Founded in 1978, the School of Medicine at Jinan University was the first medical school in China within a comprehensive university. It was registered with the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1984, enabling international graduates to attend the qualification exam for doctors in their home countries. In 2015, the Ministry of Education, the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office for the State Council and the National Health and Family Planning Commission co-signed a contract to jointly develop the School of Medicine at Jinan University, making it one of the country's key medical schools.

The School of Medicine is rated as an Outstanding Doctor Training Pilot Project School and boasts a highly qualified and specialized teaching team. Faculty members have won national and/or provincial awards; and published articles in internationally renowned publications including Science, Nature Medicine and The Lancet. Professor Zhan Qiming, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, is the honorary dean of the School; Professor Su Guohui, academician of the China Academy, is co-dean of the JNU-HKU Joint Lab of Brain Function and Health.