7 July 2006

Final Graduation Ceremony - 11 July 2006

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

Around 400 students will graduate with undergraduate and postgraduate degrees on the afternoon of Tuesday 11 July.

Honorary degrees will be conferred on Dr Catherine Hamlin, who was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for her work in women’s health in Ethiopia, Mrs Sybill Storz, chairman of the world-leading medical technologies company Karl Storz GmbH & & Co. and Mr Andrew Thomson chairman of the Dundee-based publishers D. C. Thomson & Co. Ltd.

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.

Details of the ceremony are as follows:

***Photo opportunity: July 11 at 1.30pm. Robing Rooms, City Chambers, City Square, Dundee. There will be an opportunity to photograph the honorary graduates.

2pm- Graduation for the School of Medicine and the School of Dentistry

The University will confer honorary degrees on Dr Catherine Hamlin, Mrs Sybill Storz and Mr Andrew Thomson.

Dr Catherine Hamlin. It is estimated that throughout the world, one woman in every twenty will have difficulty in childbirth. In the 19th Century, the death of both mother and child was not uncommon.

Modern medical care and treatment, with easy access to Hospitals and doctors, has eliminated this threat in our western civilisation. But this is not so in developing countries where the joy of parenthood is frequently marred in the aftermath of obstructed labour, when a serious condition known as a fistula can occur. This can result in severe physical pain and other effects which can lead to social shame in some countries.

In 1958, two Australian doctors Reg and Catherine Hamlin, went to Ethiopia to train midwives. Seeing the plight of these poor women, they became determined to help them.

They developed a delicate surgical technique that, in most cases, will result in a complete cure. Then they built the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital. Since then more than 24,000 women have been treated and cured. The Hospital now trains doctors from other developing countries. The effect of their work is spreading world-wide, restoring new life and dignity to thousands of young women.

Mrs Sybill Storz is the chairman of Karl Storz GmbH & Co. She has been a keen supporter of training and education in endoscopic surgery worldwide, and especially to the University of Dundee. Under her stewardship, Karl Storz GmbH has grown to be a market leader with large factories in Germany and USA. The company also has a research and development facility within the grounds of Ninewells Hospital in Dundee and has worked closely with the Cuschieri Skills Centre at the University Medical School.

Mr Andrew Thomson was born in Dundee and educated at Churchill College, Cambridge, where he graduated with a degree in modern languages. He became chairman of the Dundee-based publishing group D. C. Thomson & Co. Ltd in 2005. He is only the fourth chairman of the company in its 101-year history. Andrew joined the family firm in 1964 and has been a director since 1974. He has been closely involved in the day-to-day running of the firm throughout that time and has also taken a keen interest in local affairs.

For more information contact:

Hilary McNally
Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: h.mcnally@dundee.ac.uk