Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences Reunion Weekend
8 October 2018
From 5-7 October, the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences hosted a 50th Anniversary Alumni Reunion.
It was wonderful to see so many of our alumni and staff at the 50th anniversary celebration. The weekend, comprising of a reception, reunion and a trip to Waiheke Island, saw hundreds of alumni from across the faculty's six schools join together for a chance to reconnect, celebrate and remember. Among those in attendance were two-thirds of the first medical class intake of 1968, many of whom travelled from as far as the United States and United Kingdom to enjoy the weekend.
The weekend began with a welcome back reception on Friday hosted by Professor John Fraser, Dean of the faculty. The evening included a mihi and short performance by a string quartet from the Medical and Health Sciences Student Symphony Orchestra. The website for the FMHS History Project (a historical record of the FMHS compiled by Professor Linda Bryder DPhil (Oxon) FRSNZ and her team) was also launched.
Among those in attendance were two-thirds of the first medical class intake of 1968, many of whom travelled from as far as the United States and United Kingdom to enjoy the weekend.
On Saturday, alumni were offered a full day of activities including campus tours and tours of the Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, class photos and a special programme of ‘MED talks’. Sessions included: First Class Retrospective, Cutting Edge Medicine, Current Challenges in Health, Sports Medicine and Bone Health, and Ageing Well.
There was also a temporary display of rare medical books in the Philson Library, a pop-up Campus Store and opportunity to view the new sculpture 'Hygeia' by leading NZ sculptor and Elam School of Fine Arts alumnus Terry Stringer ONZM. This sculpture was commissioned by the University’s Art Collections Committee to mark the faculty's 50th anniversary.
Finally, a small group of alumni chose to attend an intimate tour and tasting at the University-owned Goldie Estate vineyard and winery on Waiheke Island.
We hope that those who attended enjoyed the weekend as much as we did and that those who weren’t able to be there can join us for another alumni reunion in the near future.