This paper explains the emergence and development of sociology of medicine, defines the term of sociology of medicine, the similarities and differences between sociology of medicine and related scientific disciplines, compares sociomedical and behavioral science in the field of medicine and illustrates sociological approaches to health and disease problems. Medicine and health care are explanated as the subsystems (social institutions) of the global social system. Furthermore, an explaination has been given of health and disease in social, cultural and behavioral context. The paper also presents the results of empirical research, where the familiarity of students of sociology of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Split was examined with the topic of sociology of medicine. The used method was a survey, and for the instrument a questionnaire containing a combination of closed and open type of questions. The sample included 82 students from undergraduate and graduate studies. The results show that students were not familiar with the sociology of medicine but they expressed the opinion about importance to develop sociological research in this field. According to the results, it has also been found that students estimated that further research in this field should be focused on: medical ethics, relationship: physician-patient, role / patient position, alternative medicine, and direction towards the role / position of medical staff. The results of the research, in the example of whether or not the students are familiar with the subject of special sociology if they attend the course dealing with these subjects, show that almost the majority of students believe that they know better the subject of special sociology if they attend the course.