Governor welcomes UOW's first medical students

Jan 29, 2007

The Governor of NSW, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir, AC, CVO, welcomed the first medical students to the University of Wollongong's new Graduate School of Medicine (GSM) in a special ceremony at the university today (29 January) which was attended by over 600 people.

The GSM, described as "a medical school for the 21st century", with its innovative curriculum and extensive use of medical education technology, will train 80 medical students per year at purpose-built medical training facilities at its Wollongong and Shoalhaven campuses.

It has been established primarily to address the chronic shortage of doctors practising outside capital cities by training doctors to work in regional, rural and remote areas of Australia.

Professor Bashir said the opening of the GSM, was an "auspicious and historic occasion in the university's history" and congratulated the medical students on the beginning of a great journey.

"The foundation of the Graduate School of Medicine is testimony to the vision that has flourished under the University's excellent Vice-Chancellor (Professor Gerard Sutton) and his predecessor (Professor Ken McKinnon). I have no doubt it will produce medical graduates who will serve the nation with distinction."

The students joined the Governor and her husband Sir Nicholas Shehadie, official guests and academics in a procession to the University Hall for the welcome ceremony, where the inaugural GSM Lecture was presented by University of Sheffield Medical School Director of Teaching Professor Nigel Bax.

Professor Bax, who has been a key consultant to the GSM as it established its curriculum, said the establishment of a medical school in three years had represented "an epic commitment by the University of Wollongong", and now it was up to the students to make a personal contribution to its development.

Professor Bax said UOW had worked closely with local and regional medical agencies and many individuals to focus the curriculum on developing graduates who will serve regional, rural and remote communities.

"This most worthy mission needs sustained dedication and commitment together with the collaboration of patients, healthcare professionals, government agencies, statutory bodies, teachers and of critical importance, you the foundation students. Your personal contributions as students will be key in developing your school," he said.

Professor Bax predicted that the UOW community-based model for training doctors for rural and regional medical practice would generate considerable interest.

"Your model will be emulated, as many others will want to follow your lead so it is vital that you remain committed to working with and in your community," he said.

UOW Vice-Chancellor Professor Gerard Sutton said today's welcome to the students was an historic occasion for the university, and for the region.

"This new Medical School will make an extremely important contribution to the communities of the Illawarra and Shoalhaven and other regional and rural areas by training doctors who are committed to practising medicine outside the capital cities," Professor Sutton said.

"The University is honoured that such an eminent Australian as Professor Bashir, with her outstanding record in medical education, agreed to welcome our first medical students."

During today's ceremony the University's Chancellor Michael Codd, AC conferred an Honorary Doctorate of Science on Professor Bashir in recognition of her distinguished career in medicine and medical education.

Other official guests included NSW Minister for Regional Development, Water Utilities, Small Business and the Illawarra David Campbell, Liberal Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, South Eastern Sydney and Illawarra Area Health Service CEO Professor Debora Picone, AM, former UOW Vice-Chancellor Professor Ken McKinnon, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences Executive Dean Professor Don Iverson and GSM Medical School Foundation Dean Professor John Hogg.

Professor Iverson said UOW had created a medical school for the 21st century. UOW had been determined to establish a medical school that would be innovative, and not replicated anywhere else in Australia, with extensive use of existing and emerging medical education and information technologies.

He said the university had recruited outstanding medical educators, one-third of whom had extensive international teaching experience.

He praised the support the GSM had received from its advisory committee of Illawarra and Shoalhaven-based medical practitioners, and Professor Debora Picone from the South Eastern Sydney and Illawarra Area Health Service.

In welcoming the students, the Foundation Dean Professor Hogg paid tribute to Professor Iverson for "his vision and passion which defines the school that you are about to enter".

"I congratulate you on being chosen to enter the medical school. It opens a door for you to a world of tremendous responsibility and tremendous opportunity," Professor Hogg said.

"You have an opportunity to make a difference, and the greatest opportunity you have is to make a difference to the state of health of our indigenous people. The traditional custodians of the land... have an average life span 20 years less than the rest of us. This is an horrific symptom of indigenous disadvantage that diminishes us all.

"The North Americans and New Zealanders have reduced the premature mortality in their indigenous populations from 20 years to less than five years in just the last 30 years. If they can do it then so can we. You have the opportunity to lead this."

Professor Hogg said the 72 domestic and eight international students had been chosen after an exhaustive selection and interview process."We have an excellent cohort of students for the first year of the Graduate School of Medicine, and it is a pleasure to welcome them here today," he said.

Professor Hogg said the candidates had a wide range of undergraduate degrees, with an average age of 26. A majority were residents of the Illawarra and Shoalhaven.

Professor Hogg said the GSM had been developed as a community-based school, and had received enormous support from the medical community in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven, as well as the general community. He said close to 300 medical practitioners in the Illawarra, Shoalhaven and Southern Highlands had joined the GSM as honorary associates, and would provide invaluable input into student training in the years to come.

Key points about the GSM:

· The GSM has selected students who have indicated their commitment to working as GPs or specialists in regional, rural or remote Australia, and so will have a long-term impact on the health of Australians living in those areas

· Specially-designed GSM buildings have been completed and are operational at the Wollongong and Shoalhaven Campuses

. The GSM will accept 80 students per year, with 56 based in Wollongong and 24 in the Shoalhaven

· The GSM has been established with generous financial support from the Federal and NSW Governments

· It is a community-based school, strongly supported by the medical fraternity of the Illawarra and Shoalhaven

. The GSM will develop a strong research focus, building on the key research strengths of the University which include medical radiation physics, nanotechnology, molecular biology, cancer drug research, nutrition and exercise science.