New medical school in Londonderry welcomes first intake of students

Around 70 students have enrolled at the Magee campus of Ulster University

The first students have entered the new medical school in Londonderry.

Some 70 students are enrolled in the first cohort at the new School of Medicine at the Magee campus of Ulster University.

The graduate entry medical school is made up of students with a wide range of related and non-scientific/healthcare backgrounds from politics to investment banking, radiography, management consultancy, optometry, forensic science and nursing.

Aoife O’Donnell, 24, from Derry, said it is her dream to train and work in the north west as a doctor.

“My younger brother was diagnosed with diabetes when I was 16 and caring for him prompted my early interest in a career in medicine,” she said.

“I was unwell when I did my Leaving Cert and found myself just short of the points for medicine so I opted to study optometry.

“More recently I worked alongside a paediatric consultant ophthalmologist and this further clinical experience helped to solidify my passion for medicine.

“After contracting Covid-19, I have recently trained and started working as a Covid-19 vaccinator to play my part in the national effort in managing the pandemic.

“It is my dream to train and work in the north west as a doctor. I hope to specialise in ophthalmology and aspire to provide the very best in eye care in this region.”

The new department is housed in a listed historic building which was transformed into a state-of-the-art facility with a £1m investment including an anatomy laboratory which will feature equipment such as anatomage tables and hand-held Ultrasound imaging devices.

As part of the plan for the expansion of the Magee campus, a permanent home for the School of Medicine will be located on the riverfront, on the Strand Road in the years to come. It will act as a catalyst for an innovation corridor stretching out to Fort George.

Ulster University Vice Chancellor, Professor Paul Bartholomew, said it was an exciting and important day for the university.

“Our vision for the School of Medicine is to be nationally and internationally recognised for excellence so we can competitively recruit and retain high quality staff and students; produce doctors able to deliver whole-person care with skill, teamwork and compassion for the benefit of people across Northern Ireland and beyond,” he said.

“Today marks a major step in the journey to realising that vision and, on behalf of the entire university, I extend my warm welcome and good wishes to them.”

Published: 23/08/2021 by Radio NewsHub