Celebrating a Decade of Innovation in Medical Education: 10-year Anniversary Event

On Friday, 12 April, we were proud to mark a significant milestone in the life of our medical programme: the 10th anniversary of our founding cohort, MED15. This landmark event brought together members of our community past and present, to celebrate our collective achievements and look ahead to the next decade of progress and innovation.

Hosted by Professor Joanne Selway, Pro-Faculty Dean of FMHS, the celebration was enriched by the presence of distinguished guests, including alumni from the pioneering MED15 cohort. Their reflections on the journey from our first days to their current clinical and professional accomplishments offered a powerful testament to the transformative impact of our programme.

We were equally honoured to welcome members of our current student body, including final-year students who will soon join our alumni ranks. Their energy and commitment were a reminder of our ongoing responsibility to cultivate a learning environment that empowers the next generation of medical professionals.

The event also provided an opportunity to reconnect with former medical school staff, including Professor Stewart Peterson, the founding Director of Medical Education, whose leadership was instrumental in shaping the early direction of the course. We were especially privileged to be joined by Professor Karol Sikora, our founding Dean, whose vision and advocacy laid the foundation for our current successes.

A forward-looking discussion panel before the drinks reception focused on the next 10 years of the programme. Participants shared insights on how we can sustain and deepen our culture of innovation. A key consensus emerged: like patients in clinical care, students must remain at the heart of all decisions as we evolve our curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment. This guiding principle will ensure that our programme continues to respond to the changing needs of learners and the healthcare system alike.

Another outcome of the discussion was a strong shared commitment to strengthening our alumni community. It was agreed that regular alumni events should be held every five years, fostering a sense of continuity, shared purpose, and professional network that spans across cohorts and generations.

The 10-year anniversary served as a celebration not only of how far we have come, but of the collaborative spirit that has defined our journey. We are grateful to all who attended and contributed to the occasion, and we look forward with renewed enthusiasm to the next decade of our shared mission in medical education.