Welcome from the Head of School

Welcome to the 2022 edition of Chiron

We publish this latest edition of Chiron as 2022 draws to a close.

This year has seen Australia and the wider world continue to navigate the challenges and changes arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Looking ahead, while further challenges may still arise at times due to COVID, this edition of Chiron focuses on the school emerging ‘out of iso’ and strengthening collaborations and connections, both internally and externally. It showcases how we have weathered change and how we have become stronger, more flexible and broader in our scope.

I’d like to acknowledge the ongoing efforts of the Melbourne Medical School and our alumni, staff, honoraries and students who have continued to excel in a landscape that has sometimes been unpredictable and difficult.

The past 12 months have been a time of new beginnings and innovation, motivated by our continued determination to be a world-leading medical school that is forward-thinking, collaborative and impactful.

A key change has been the introduction of our new MD curriculum at the start of 2022.

With the MD also being delivered across multiple sites, including our end-to-end rural pathway in Shepparton, there was an impetus to ensure that the core curriculum content delivered to every student, at all locations, was consistent.

In this edition of Chiron, you can find out more about the curriculum redesign and the progress made in its first year of implementation through the involvement and expertise of a number of our senior team, academics, teachers and students.

This issue of Chiron also showcases more of our alumni who are making significant contributions to healthcare and research in their respective fields. From internationally renowned research in epilepsy treatment to closing the healthcare gap in stroke care and championing improvements in First Nations health, our alumni continue to have tangible impacts on the lives of Australians.

Innovation and collaboration are also evident in the work of the newly founded Collaborative for Better Health and Regulation – an initiative that brings together Melbourne Medical School, Melbourne Law School and the School of Population and Global Health. It aims to explore how better regulation can support better public health and healthcare.

Melbourne Medical School is also deeply appreciative of the support offered to current students by benefactors. This issue of Chiron features some of the stories of students whose lives have been changed by scholarships from generous benefactors.

We also highlight the thriving culture of altruism within our community, through our mentoring and clinical placement programs and the health professionals who are willing to share their time and expertise to nurture the next generation of doctors.

In closing, I’d like to thank Professor John Prins, former Head of the Melbourne Medical School for his leadership and commitment to the School and its network of partners over the past four years.

Professor Nicola Lautenschlager
Head, Melbourne Medical School