125 years of medical excellence

Health Sciences

An impressive list of groundbreaking medical discoveries and achievements over 125 years will be celebrated at the University of Adelaide in 2010.

This year marks a series of milestones for the University's medical programs, including the 125th anniversary of the Medical School, the 90th birthday of the Dental School and 15 years of teaching within the Discipline of Nursing.

The Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Professor Justin Beilby, said the University's medical graduates and staff had made an enormous contribution to society at large.

"None more so than Lord Howard Florey, a 1921 medical graduate and 1945 Nobel Laureate whose role in the development of penicillin as the world's first antibiotic has saved an estimated 80 million lives," Professor Beilby said.

Another prominent medical alumnus who will be recognised in this year's 125th celebrations is Dr J. Robin Warren, who shared the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 2005 for helping to identify the role of bacterium in peptic and gastric ulcers.

The work of Helen Mayo (a pioneer in women's and children's health in Australia), Dr Basil Hetzel (renowned for his work in iodine deficiency) and Sir Hugh Cairns (world-class neurosurgeon and instigator of the motorcycle helmet) will all be highlighted throughout the year.

"We are very proud of the contribution that our 5800 graduates have made over the past 125 years in the clinical, teaching and research fields," Professor Beilby said.

"Our graduates practise widely across Australia, South-East Asia and the rest of the world, and I have no doubt that the vast majority of South Australians have, at some time in their lives, received medical care from someone who has studied or worked at the University of Adelaide."

The Faculty of Health Sciences is hosting a series of events throughout 2010 to mark the 125th anniversary, culminating with a week-long program of activities from 1-4 September.

These include:

• CELEBRATING 125 years of medicine at the University of Adelaide at a Gala Dinner held at the Adelaide Convention Centre on Saturday 4 September. University staff, affiliates and graduates will be invited to attend; ticketing details will be available in mid 2010.
  
• EXPERIENCING the unique history of the Medical Program by attending the official launch of the Medicine 125th Anniversary celebrations and viewing the historical exhibition on display.
  
• APPRECIATING 'A Day In The Life Of Medicine', a specially commissioned art show exhibiting works of significant South Australian medical professionals, brought to life by artists in residence Avril Thomas and Meg Brassil.
  
• DISCOVERING today's up and coming medical researchers at the 1 September Faculty Research Expo, which will showcase the breadth of academic expertise and the cutting-edge research taking place in the Faculty of Health Sciences.
  
• PLAYING a friendly round of golf with medical alumni on 2 September, followed by dinner and drinks at the Grange Golf Course with celebrity Chef Andrew Fielke and Master of Ceremonies Kerry O'Keeffe.
  
• LEARNING from local and international keynote speakers during four health lectures to be held in Bonython Hall, which will be open to the public.

A number of special guests will attend the September celebrations.

The 2010 celebrations will kick off with a tug-of-war between the University's medical and engineering students on the Barr Smith Lawns at lunchtime on Thursday 4 March.