Celebrating Success, Progression and Friendship
The 2010 Alumni Reunion brought together the graduates of 1950, 1960, 1970, 1980, 1985, 1990, 2000 to participate in the MGA Annual General Scientific Meeting and Gala Reunion Dinner on 30th April 2010.
The event began on the afternoon of the 30th with the Medical Graduates’ Association Annual Scientific Meeting. Graduates were first given an opportunity to tour the new Health Sciences Centre and were impressed by the state of the art clinical skills and dissection facilities as well as some familiar sights from their days in Earlsfort Terrace in the Anatomy Museum. Following the tours, the Scientific Meeting commenced and delegates were treated to a varied and interesting range of presentations by speakers from the graduating years.
Scientific Meeting
Firstly, Class of 2000 speaker, Dr Ruairi Hanley spoke about The Future of Irish Medicine and he was followed by Dr Keith Holmes, Class of 1990, who gave an equally engaging presentation on Child Psychiatry – The Road Less Travelled. Class of 1985 graduate Dr Derval Igoe spoke on the very topical issue of the recent flu pandemic in her presentation Pandemic (H1N1)2009, the story so far and was followed by the Class of 1980 speaker Dr Colette Halpin who spoke insightfully about Mental health, stigma and 30 years of change.
After a break for refreshments, the presentations took a global turn as Dr William Howlett of the Class of 1970 took the audience on a journey through his work in Tanzania with his presentation Neurology in Africa. To conclude, the 2010 Dr Leslie Lam Lecture was given by Class of 1960 graduate Professor Courtenay Bartholomew who travelled from Trinidad and Tobago to deliver A Caribbean Tribute to UCD. The Medical Graduates’ Association would like to thank all the speakers for their thoroughly interesting, engaging and indeed entertaining contributions to the Scientific Meeting.
Evening Entertainment
The evening’s entertainment got under way at 7pm in O’Reilly Hall, where the 200 graduates were reunited with their former classmates over pre-dinner drinks and entertainment provided by a string quartet. They were formally welcomed to the event by Professor William G Powderly, Dean of Medicine, Head of School of Medicine and Medicine and Medical Science who also thanked the representatives from each class for their assistance in organising the event and for giving so generously of their time and effort.
After dinner, MGA President Dr Jane Dolan presented the MGA Distinguished Graduate Award to Dr William Howlett in recognition of his contribution to medicine in Tanzania, where he has been striving to develop neurological services through teaching and research since 1984. Dr Dolan also presented the Meenan Research Medal to Dr Margaret O’Brien (in absentia) and the O’Connell Research Medal to Dr Deirdre Fanning in recognition of her research into prostate cancer. Congratulations to Dr Howlett, Dr O’Brien and Dr Fanning on these wonderful achievements and we wish them every success in the future.
No doubt alumni from Classes of ’51, ’61, ’71, ’81, ’86, ’91 and 2001 are already looking forward to celebrating at the 2011 event and preparations will be commencing very shortly. If you are a graduate of one of these years and wish to get involved in the planning process we would be delighted to hear from you. You are welcome to contact the School of Medicine and Medical Science Office to register your interest, mga@ucd.ie