Founded in 1950 as a prefectural educational institute, Sapporo Medical University has since produced numerous medical professionals of well-rounded character and contributed greatly to the improvement of the health, medical services and welfare in Hokkaido. In April 2007, the university became a Hokkaido public university corporation and it presently consists of the School of Medicine and School of Health Sciences, which together are made up of four faculties. All strive to enhance education, research and medical care and contribute to medical services in Hokkaido, while adhering to the following three principles: train medical professionals with a well-rounded character, improve medical services for the residents of Hokkaido, and promote advanced international research.