Reflections from the Head of School

I hope you are keeping warm and well as we transition through the nasty Victorian winter months. It has certainly been a busy period in the Melbourne Medical School (MMS) since my last update.

In May I was delighted to attend the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences Conference at Cape Schanck. The Conference was an important platform for us to discuss and strategise impactful, collaborative projects across the three impact domains – curing chronic disease, prevention and equity, and transforming healthcare.

In July, the School Executive team hosted a Symposium on futurism in medicine. Currently, we are consulting with Dr Michael Thorne from Abingdon Advisory to develop and synthesize these ideas into our strategic plan that we aim to launch before the end of the year.

During the Symposium, we hosted a thought-provoking panel discussion moderated by Professor Mike McGuckin, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of MDHS. Delving into scientific, health service, community, health and government perspectives on futurism in medicine, the panel featured insightful contributions from:

  • Uncle Paul Briggs – Executive Chairman, Kaiela Institute
  • Professor Andrew Cuthbertson – Non-Executive Director and Chair of Innovation and Development Committee, CSL Limited and Deputy Chancellor, University of Melbourne
  • Professor Shelley Dolan – Chief Executive, Melbourne Health
  • Professor Lena Sanci – Head, Department of General Practice and Primary Care and Chief General Practice Adviser, Victorian Department of Health.

Jessamy Gee, Director of Think in Colour, was also in attendance and captured the essence of the day by providing live illustrations of the key themes discussed.

Think in Colour - Melbourne Medical School Symposium 2024

I was delighted to co-host a Faculty Town Hall alongside the Dean, Professor Jane Gunn AO last month. This Town Hall was particularly significant, as it coincided with NAIDOC Week – a time to acknowledge and honour the rich history, culture, and achievements of First Nations peoples.

The diverse range of NAIDOC Week events and activities held across the University left a profound impression on me. It is not merely a time for celebration, but also a poignant reminder of the ongoing journey toward reconciliation and the individual roles each of us can play.

Last but not least, I am thrilled to announce that the School will soon launch a brand new podcast. In this podcast series, I'll be conversing with our leaders, partners, students, and alumni to showcase the School’s diverse and brilliant leadership and areas of impact.

As the year progresses, I am filled with anticipation and excitement for our future endeavours at the Melbourne Medical School. I look forward to sharing more exciting developments with you in my next update.

Warm regards

Professor Sarath Ranganathan
Head, Melbourne Medical School