Reflections from the Head of School

As we settle into the new year, it’s fantastic to see the School come to life with new and returning students, our dedicated staff, and a range of exciting initiatives taking shape. The start of the academic year brings fresh energy and new opportunities, and I look forward to what we can achieve in the year ahead.

During the break, I was delighted to participate in an enriching week in India with fellow colleagues, where we explored the potential for developing collaborations and initiatives in teaching, learning and research at the University of Melbourne Global Centre in Delhi, St John's Medical College and the Catholic Health Association of India in Bengaluru as well as Christian Medical College in Vellore.

While in India, I also had the opportunity to put my teaching hat on and engage with students from Lancer’s International School and Maxford School in Delhi. I delivered a ‘masterclass’ to senior school students, where we explored the world of respiratory health and the various career paths available in medicine and other disciplines at the University of Melbourne.

Last month I attended a celebratory event marking a new 10-year partnership and funding commitment between Australian Centre for Accelerating Diabetes Innovations (ACADI) and Diabetes Victoria. ACADI has already made significant advancements in the field, and this partnership will continue to ensure its ongoing impact.

Additionally, I presented at the Empowering Consumers for Health Outcomes (ECHO) Summit, hosted by the Department of Management and Marketing at the University of Melbourne. While Professor Wood delivered a brilliant and insightful presentation, the organisers kindly let me waffle on afterwards as we explored the opportunities and challenges of conducting interdisciplinary research in health decision-making.

I was honoured to attend the recent Dean’s Honours Awards ceremony hosted by Associate Dean Learning and Teaching Professor, Liz Molloy. I am incredibly proud of the achievements of the Melbourne Medical School, where four graduates received Dean’s Honours in the 2024 cohort.

Lastly, I would like to congratulate all recent National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) grant round recipients. This year, we had fourteen recipients of Postgraduate Scholarships, four Ideas Grants, and seven Investigator Grants. The national research space continues to be challenging but these grants highlight some of the exceptional work being done in our School.

It has undoubtedly been a busy start to 2025, and I look forward to more exciting news and opportunities in the months ahead.

Best regards

Sarath Ranganathan
Head of the Melbourne Medical School