charliehall: “Not true; there were medical schools, not abstract but concrete, in ancient times and in the middle ages. Sforno got a medical degree from the University of Rome.”
Many of these medical schools were, as I mentioned, more in the manner of the master physician teaching a few students- more of an apprenticeship. Perhaps “abstract” was a bad word to use in this case.
In the Christian Middle Ages, there were very, very few colleges at all, and pretty much no medical schools- many of the woman doctors did achieve degrees informally, as did the male doctors. These prefab med schools really came about in the time of the Renaissance (the time of the Sforno).
In the Muslim Golden Ages, there were medical schools (the Rambam went to one), but I’m not sure how regimented they were or whether women were permitted to be students. I also don’t know if there were noncertified female doctors in Muslim lands.