50 Years of Medicine at Flinders University

Flinders University celebrates 50 years of the medicine program.

2024 marks 50 years of Medicine at Flinders University, Bedford Park, which is co-located with Flinders Medical Centre (FMC) a major public tertiary hospital.

A significant early initiative was the decision to build the Flinders Medical Centre (FMC), part of the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network (SALHN), on land adjacent to the campus and to base the university's Medical School within this new public hospital – the first such integration in Australia.

Partnering with SALHN, Flinders accepted undergraduate medical students in 1974, with the FMC opening the following year. This partnership has provided invaluable support to empower our workforce and the community in which we live.

This was expanded further in 2011 with the establishment of the Northern Territory Medical Program (NTMP) in Darwin.

Over the years, Flinders has led the way when it comes to our medical programs which are recognised internationally for our innovative curriculum, delivering outstanding clinical and academic training, which integrates clinical medicine with a strong underpinning in biomedical science.

Now with the future with the Health and Medical Research precinct also opening it’s doors, it will further enable researchers, practitioners and industry partners to work together more closely than ever before, creating a hub of collaboration within southern Adelaide’s own biomedical research precinct.

Commemorative publication

Gala dinner

Alumni stories

Celebrating our people is what we do best!

The 50 Years of Medicine commemorative publication shines a light on more than 20 Flinders alumni who have contributed immeasurably to the health of communities here and abroad.

Inside you'll find many inspiring stories, including:

Taking Bold Steps with Professor Rosalie Grivell
From Vet to Chief Medical Officer with Professor Chris Baggoley AO
Avenues of Trust with Associate Professor Emma Kennedy
Our Humble Hero with Dr Richard Harris SC OAM DUniv
NT Trained and True with Dr Jean Pepperill

If you have feedback on the magazine or news to share with us, please get in touch via alumni@flinders.edu.au.

Download 50 Years of Medicine publication

50 years of Medicine Gala Dinner

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the 50 years of Medicine Gala Dinner in October to acknowledge the achievements of our alumni and academics, past and present.

It was wonderful to celebrate the University growing its Health and Medical study paths.

View Gala dinner photos

From 1974 to 2024 and beyond, Medicine at Flinders is about making improvements to the health of the communities we serve.

1974 - 2001

2002 - 2024

“

We had a wonderful time celebrating our rich history, achievements, and looked ahead to our future success at the 50 Years of Medicine Gala Dinner.

The event brought together over two hundred and fifty alumni and invited guests from across Australia and overseas at the Ian McLachlan Room at the stunning Adelaide Oval on Saturday, 19th October 2024. It was an unforgettable evening filled with great food, wine and captivating entertainment as we reflected on the last 50 years of Medicine at Flinders.

Most importantly it was an opportunity for classmates to come together again and renew long standing friendships, and to reflect on what has made the Flinder MD program so special. We heard that it was about providing an fabulous medical educational opportunity to students who would otherwise not have received it, and the impact that they have made.

The attendees were a diverse group, including Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC, Governor of South Australia, The Hon. Nat Cook MP, Flinders medicine graduates, current and former academics, leaders in health, industry partners, current students, representatives from the trailblazing first group of teaching staff, and our inaugural medical students who began their studies 50 years ago.

It was truly a memorable celebration, and we were thrilled to have so many people commemorate this milestone with us.

I want to acknowledge and recognise the senior foundation academic staff; the Foundation Dean, Professor Gus Fraenkel AM; The Foundation Professors, John Chalmers AC (Medicine), Laurie Geffen AM (Physiology), Andrew Rogers (Morphology), Michael Berry (Biochemistry), Richard Whitehead (Pathology), James Watts (Surgery), Ross Kalucy AM (Psychiatry), Warren Jones AO (Obstetrics and Gynaecology), Garry Kneebone (Paediatrics), Michael Cousins (Anaesthesia and Intensive Care), Anthony Radford AM (Primary Care and Community Medicine, General Surgery) and Geoff Benness (Radiology); and the Foundation Associate Professors, Alec Morley (Haematology), John Bradley (Immunology) and Peter Macdonald (Microbiology and Infectious Diseases). It is after all their legacy that we are seeking to maintain and strengthen.

Professor Jonathan Craig
Vice President Executive Dean, College of Medicine and Public Health

”

Meet Flinders alumni

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Studying medicine at Flinders University provides students with a unique opportunity to learn from a diverse range of experts, thanks to our strong partnerships with world-class healthcare institutions, hospitals, and general practices, beginning with our first partner, the Flinders Medical Centre, and now extending throughout metropolitan and regional South Australia and through Australia’s central corridor into the Northern Territory.

Professor Karen Lower
Dean (Education), College of Medicine and Public Health

”

Health and Medical Research Building at Flinders Village

HMRB Exterior 008_Credit Mark Zed Photography_960 x 720.jpg

Learn about the HMRB

Register for a tour

Renowned as innovative and progressive, Flinders University knows bringing the brightest minds together with industry can change the world. That’s why we’ve invested in and built a new Health and Medical Research Building (HMRB) as the centrepiece of our exciting Flinders Village development.

The HMRB enables researchers, practitioners and industry partners to work together more closely than ever before, creating a hub of collaboration within southern Adelaide’s own biomedical research precinct.

Located adjacent to Flinders Medical Centre and Flinders Private Hospital, it is the focal point of research informed by genuine patient need, positioned to make an immediate improvement to people’s health and wellbeing.

Building on more than 50 years of exceptional health and medical teaching, the HMRB is a once-in-a-generation initiative that will transform how we understand, diagnose and treat illness.

Thank you to our sponsors

Thank you to our generous sponsors for their support in making the 50 Years of Medicine Gala Dinner truly unforgettable.

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The Alumni Relations team is committed to actively engaging our graduates in the life of the University through meaningful programs, benefits, services and communications.