In Principio_S1 2018_WEB

I N P R I N C I P I O | 6 F E A T U R E 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, SYDNEY Celebrating 10 Years of Outstanding Achievements In just 10 years, The University of Notre Dame Australia’s School of Medicine in Sydney has gained an enviable reputation in the medical world – a reputation that the Dean of Medicine, Professor Christine Bennett AO, attributes to three key ‘ ingredients’: dedicated and committed students; a world-class faculty; and the vital contribution of health partners. Outstanding students, from all walks of life, are front and centre of the School of Medicine’s success. “To produce the best doctors we attract and select students from a diverse range of backgrounds and life experiences,” said Professor Bennett. “In terms of the academic faculty, we have focused on developing special expertise in health inequity, primary care, population health, bioethics, palliative care, rural medicine and health system reform. “Our hospitals and health service partners – St Vincent’s Health Australia, St John of God, Calvary Health, Mercy Health and public hospitals in NSW and Victoria – share our mission and provide wonderful clinical teaching environments and research collaborations.” Located in one of Australia’s most significant health and medical research precincts adjacent to St Vincent’s Hospital, Darlinghurst, and with eight Clinical School Campuses in metropolitan and rural New South Wales and Victoria, the School offers students the opportunity to gain broad-based experience in both city and country settings. In addition, medical students have unlimited access to the vast experience of primary care practitioners through the School’s general practice academic network and community health services partners. 2008-2018 SCHOOL OF MEDICINE MILESTONES 2008: First students welcomed to newly opened School in Darlinghurst 2010: Students commenced clinical training 2011: First student cohort graduates CLINICAL SCHOOLS ESTABLISHED 2012: First, purpose-built Clinical School co-located at Mercy Hospital, Werribee, Victoria 2013: Auburn, NSW 2014: Wagga Wagga, NSW 2015: Lithgow, NSW 2016: Hawkesbury, NSW 2016: Top ranking for Clinical Sciences achieved in the Excellence in Research Awards 2017: Doctor of Medicine program introduced 2017: Students win Golden Scalpel Games in NSW for the second year in a row THE NEXT 10 YEARS Looking ahead, Professor Bennett is determined that the School of Medicine should continue to focus on clinical research – alongside its teaching responsibilities. “Our main areas of research are bioethics, palliative care, climate change, health and equity, rural health, primary care and health systems innovation,” she said. “We’re about applied medical research. Our School mission is to train and educate excellent, caring and ethical doctors in the context of Catholic faith and values.” Professor Bennett is proud of the School’s past contribution to both rural and Aboriginal health – and this commitment will continue. There are currently eight Aboriginal students enrolled in Medicine. At the same time Professor Bennett would like to see a small increase in the number of international students at the School. “We’re looking at a modest increase in international student numbers at the School,” she said. “But we’re approaching this in a strategic, mission-aligned way.”