Medical Reunion

Former medical students from the University of Dundee - many of them now leading figures in their fields - returned to the city this month to join the 40th anniversary celebrations.

Returning alumni at the medical reunion came from as far afield as Australia, New Zealand and the United States.

Professor Peter Illingworth, medical director of IVF Australia based at the University of Sydney, was one of the returning `missionaries' who spoke at the reunion. He was excited to be back in the city where he studied and to find it now firmly established as a leading centre of medical research.

"It really is remarkable how a relatively small place like Dundee has managed to establish such a strong international reputation and now stands alongside the leading research centres around the world," said Professor Illingworth.

"It also has the best view of any medical school, looking out from Ninewells over the Tay!"

Among other returning `missionaries' were Professor Alasdair Breckenridge, chair of the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, and Professor Margaret Wood, Chair of the Department of Anaesthesiology at Columbia University Medical Centre in New York.

The alumni heard a series of presentations from `Local Heroes' who have become synonymous with the developments in medical research at Dundee including Sir Philip Cohen, Sir David Lane and Sir Alfred Cuschieri.