School of Medicine's 1968 alumni return to campus
We were honoured to welcome back our 1968 medical alumni for an afternoon of reliving memories and rediscovering their old campus stomping ground.
The first stop was Cedar House where all thirteen alumni were greeted by the Dean of the School of Medicine, Professor Hazel Scott, as well as by the addition of some giant gold balloons – which turned out to be a big hit!
The group was curious to discover how the School of Medicine has evolved since their university days, and Professor Scott updated them on some key changes, with perhaps the most noticeable development being the addition of simulation-based education – a huge advancement for medical students’ learning.
There were lots of trips down memory lane during the afternoon and it was wonderful to hear the group reminisce fondly about their time at the University. Indeed, a lot has changed since their studies in 1968. They recall belonging to a smaller cohort of around 110 of which only a quarter were women. Their joyful memories reflected on the great personalities of their tutors and, most notably, the wonderful friendships that were formed.
After a spot of lunch, the group were thrilled to hear from some of our current medical students about student life fifty-five years on! Year five student Katie, and year two students Chinonso and Alicia shared insights into their course experience, their society involvement, such as Wilderness and Artefacts, and their career hopes for the future. Both present and past stories were shared and the common connection between both groups was their clear passion for medicine and the importance of connection with each and every patient.
The afternoon ended with a grand tour of the Waterhouse building where some of the group hadn’t been since they were house officers in the 1960s. It’s amazing to think that the careers they went on to build, including GPs, consultants and surgeons, were born from the knowledge learnt in these buildings.
Thank you to the 1968 alumni and the alumni team for a wonderful afternoon trip down memory lane. We hope to see you again soon!