9 July 2007

Final Graduation Ceremony - 10 July 2007

***Photo opportunity: July 10 at 2pm. Robing Rooms, City Chambers, City Square, Dundee. There will be an opportunity to photograph the honorary graduates.

2.30pm- Graduation for the School of Medicine and the School of Dentistry

The University of Dundee will host its sixth and final graduation ceremony in the Caird Hall tomorrow for the Schools of Medicine and Dentistry.

Around 400 students will graduate with undergraduate and postgraduate degrees on the afternoon of Tuesday 10th July.

An honorary degree will be conferred on Professor Sir Alfred Cuschieri. The eminent surgeon is the pioneer of keyhole surgery and has spent more than 30 years at the University of Dundee since joining in 1976.

He was Professor of Surgery and Head of Department of Surgery and Molecular Oncology, University of Dundee, 1976 - 2003 before setting up the Institute of Medical Science and Technology at the University of Dundee and St Andrews. He recently stepped down as Director of the Institute but will take up a position as Chief Scientific Officer from 1st October 2007.

The final Graduation garden party will be held in a specially constructed area to the north of the Dundee University Student Association building in Airlie Place, from 4pm to 6pm.

NOTES:
Professor Sir Alfred Cuschieri
Professor Sir Alfred Cuschieri established the Surgical Skills Unit at the University of Dundee to offer training for surgeons in minimal access techniques, popularly known as 'keyhole surgery'.

This specially designed unit was established in 1992 and in 1993 was designated the Minimal Access Therapy Training Unit for Scotland. Since that time it has expanded its remit to cover various surgical specialities and continues to plan for new courses.

Professor Sir Alfred Cuschieri, Professor of Surgery at the University of Dundee, is internationally known and respected as a leader in the field of endoscopic surgery. He has been working in this field since the 1970s and has been personally responsible for the development of many of the techniques and instruments in use today. His contribution was recognized with a Knighthood in the New Years Honours list in 1998 and the contribution of his team earned the University the prestigious Queen's Anniversary Prize in the same year.

Born and raised in Malta, he graduated MD with honours from the Royal University of Malta in 1961 then ChM (Master-of Surgery) from the University of Liverpool. He worked at posts in Malta, London and Liverpool before he joined the University of Dundee in 1976.

Over his career he has won numerous honours and awards starting with the Pfizer prize and scholarship in 1961 and including the International Society of Surgery's 1993 Prize for pioneering work in minimal access surgery. Professor Sir Alfred Cuschieri holds one of the highest merit awards on offer to NHS doctors - an A+ award - which is given for outstanding professional work.

He was, until 2006, Director of the Institute of Medical Science and Technology, Universities of Dundee and St Andrews and in October will take up the post of Chief Scienuntil 2006 and in October will take up the post of Chief Scientific Officer at the Institute. He is Professor of Surgery at the Scuola Superiore Di Studi Universitari E Di Perfezionamento S. Anna, Pisa. He was Professor of Surgery and Head of Department of Surgery and Molecular Oncology, University of Dundee, 1976 - 1988, 1988- 2003. He is one of the world's pioneers of minimally invasive "keyhole" surgery.

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Anna Day
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