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New medical students warmly welcomed in ChristchurchTuesday 11 April, 2006 The Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences recently welcomed new clinical students at its annual Academic Inauguration Ceremony, and presented prizes to last year’s fourth and fifth year medical students, and also 2005/2006 Summer Studentship. Opening the ceremony, incoming 4th year students performed an impressive waiata from the front of the Rolleston Lecture Theatre, following a mihi by Mr Rik Pitama. Acting Dean Professor Peter Joyce welcomed the new and returning students staff and families, and outlined some of the highlights of 2005. He said that Christchurch is an excellent environment for learning both the science and the art of medicine, illustrated by the fact that fifth year students in 2005 took half the distinctions in their year. The School also achieved the added distinction of another Rhodes Scholar in Nick Douglas,(6 in 30 years), while two staff members, Dr Lance Jennings and Emeritus Professor Robin Fraser received New Year Honours. Incoming Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences) Professor Don Roberton said was a great pleasure to be in Christchurch, and apologised for the absence of Vice-Chancellor Professor Skegg. He assured the audience, as someone who had travelled and worked overseas for 30 years, that New Zealand medical graduates have an excellent reputation, and that he has always been proud to be a New Zealander. He said our medical education system is robust, and change should be carefully evaluated, particularly in our clinical schools. Professor Roberton noted there is a valuable symbiosis between medical schools and the health system, one enhances the other, and it was important to integrate the efforts of both for the health of the community. He said this particularly applies to health research which needs adequate support. Student President and Rhodes Scholar Nick Douglas provided pithy advice to incoming students, liberally sprinkled with humorous ‘embarassing’ anecdotes. Finally, Chancellor Lyndsay Brown, on his first visit to the Christchurch campus, presented four gold medal awards for excellence in research to Professor Mark Richards and Associate Professor Tim Yandle from the Christchurch Cardioendocrine Research Group, and Professor David Fergusson and John Horwood from the Christchurch Health and Development Study. General staff Rowena Fisher and Kay Read also received awards for their outstanding service to the University.
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