On Saturday (September 1), eminent medical graduates will come together from all over the world for the first of this year’s reunions of former students of the University of Aberdeen’s School of Medicine.
Around forty members of the 'Class of '67' and their partners will get together in Aberdeen to renew friendships, share news and nostalgia, and hear about exciting new developments which build on the area's long tradition of excellence in medicine, all of which help to confirm the North east of Scotland as being at the leading edge of medical training and research.
On the Saturday morning, the medics who graduated together forty years ago, and have worked hard in their careers all over the globe, will travel from the Hilton Aberdeen Treetops Hotel to the Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS) at Foresterhill on the bus specially liveried by FirstGroup to celebrate medical research in the City under the banner 'Today's research, tomorrow's cures' (see photo opportunity below).
At the IMS the group will hear from Professor Hamish McKenzie, Associate Dean of the Medical School, on the future of medical education in Aberdeen. They will also enjoy an update from Dr Rona Patey, Director of the Clinical Skills Centre, on the Matthew Hay Project which aims to create the UK's finest medical education and clinical training facility just a stone's throw from both the research labs at the IMS and the wards of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. The first turf was cut on the site earlier this week.
The returning doctors will also hear about developments in the science of pathology from Consultant Pathologist and Senior Lecturer Dr Jamie Grieve, following which the day will take a lighter tone with lunch and a bus tour including a visit to Aberdeen's Maritime Museum before an evening dinner.
The reunion is being organised by a select group which includes Dr Donnie Ross, formerly a Consultant Anaesthetist and Medical Director with NHS Grampian, who is now enjoying a second career as writer and artist. Looking forward to the reunion, Donnie said: "Those of us who remained in this area, both as GPs and in hospital specialties, are really looking forward to catching up with our classmates, and are delighted that so many are making the trip. There has always been a strong and enduring bond between Aberdeen medical graduates. We are keen to share our enthusiasm about the exciting new developments happening in Aberdeen which we believe will set a benchmark for medical education and clinical training not only across the UK but internationally."
Other University groups interested in organising a reunion should contact the University's Alumni Relations team who can help or give advice. Visit www.abdn.ac.uk/alumni or call 01224 273234.