 He began his studies in Toulouse, later returning to Montpellier, where he studied medicine at the university.Here he was a student of François Boissier de Sauvages de Lacroix (1706–1767), an ardent supporter of Carl Linnaeus.In August 1752, Gouan received his doctorate under the chairmanship of Antoine Magnol (1676–1759), and subsequently practiced medicine at Saint-Éloi Hospital in Montpellier.