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A medical school which has produced more than 7,000 doctors celebrated its 50th anniversary with a landmark celebration event in Leicester. 

Leicester Medical School’s special anniversary event, held at De Montfort Hall on Friday (Nov 7), saw current staff, students and alumni gather to recount its illustrious history and share their tales of the great and the good. 

Founded in 1975, the School is at the forefront of training skilled, professional and caring doctors as part of the Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s College of Life Sciences. 

Among those who spoke at the event was the University’s very own Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, who was part of the school’s first intake of 50 students. 

After graduating, Professor Samani forged an impressive career in Leicester, and is today both a Professor of Cardiology at the University and, an Honorary Consultant Cardiologist at the Cardiac Centre, Glenfield Hospital. He has authored over 600 papers and is one of the most cited researchers in the world within his field. 

Professor Samani, who was knighted for his services to Medicine and Medical Research in 2015, says of his early days at the Medical School: “It was really exciting to be part of the first cohort of students that entered the new Leicester Medical School in 1975. We felt like, and indeed were, pioneers. 

“I am very proud of what the Leicester Medical School has achieved. Not only is it now one of the leading centres for training doctors and other healthcare professionals in the UK, but the research undertaken by its academic staff has advanced medical practice throughout the world and helped to save countless lives.” 

The Medical School admits 293 new students every year, and during this summer’s graduations, Emma Zugic became the 7,612nd doctor to graduate from Leicester.

Leicester is one of the few UK medical schools to offer full body cadaver dissection – a feature which continues to attract many new medical students due to its educational benefits.

In addition, Medical School teaching is heavily linked to the University’s Stoneygate Centre for Empathic Healthcare, which aims to improve patients’ lives by ensuring empathy is at the heart of medical education and training. 

Professor of Vascular Surgery Julian Scott is among the former medical students who attended the anniversary event, along with daughter, Lily, who qualified as a nurse in August having studied the Nursing with Leadership (MSci) course at Leicester.

Among Julian’s many accolades are past president of the Vascular Society of Great Britain and Ireland, UEMS Section, and Board of Vascular Surgery, as well as past Chair of the FRCS Vascular exam board and past Chief Examiner for the European Board of Vascular Surgery. 

His father, James, a fellow doctor and Trent Regional Medical Officer, was instrumental in establishing Leicester Medical School. 

Recalling his time there, Julian said: “My mother was a chief nursing officer too and so for me medicine ran in the family. When I joined the Medical School back in 1976, it was hard work but there was great camaraderie because we were such a small group. It provided us with a fantastic foundation and I recall some amazing lectures. It wasn’t all work though - we found time to set up the Leicester Medics Rugby Club.”

Lily, who earlier this year clinched Student Nurse of the Year (Children) in the Nursing Times Awards, is about to embark on a nursing career in Kettering Hospital’s Children’s A&E department.

She said: “It’s really special to have a family connection to Leicester with my sister graduating in Physics too and my aunt in Law. The Nursing with Leadership degree dual field is the only one of its kind in the country which allows you to study two disciplines at the same time, as well as leadership skills. For me, it was the best course to do and I’ve loved every minute of it. It’s given me what I need for a fulfilling career and I’m really excited about the next chapter. It’s been lovely to come and celebrate the Medical School’ anniversary with my dad.” 

Professor Simon Gay, Head of Leicester Medical School, who was recognised earlier this year for outstanding teaching by The National Teaching Fellowship Scheme, said: “I’m proud to lead a truly outstanding Medical School which, since its inception, has been delivering highly accomplished doctors into the healthcare service and continues to strive to produce the very best capable and caring doctors. 

“It is astounding to think that since 1975 the Medical School has trained nearly 8,000 doctors who go on to work in our local hospitals and beyond, helping to save lives through the skills we have equipped them with.”

The anniversary event on Friday was followed by the Chancellor’s Distinguished Lecture Series in which Professor Sir Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England, delivered a lecture on ‘The role of the state in preventing disease’. 

This evening (10 November), as part of the anniversary celebrations, Leicester Literary and Philosophical Society will hear a lecture by Professor Bryan Williams, Chair of Medicine UCL, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer British Heart Foundation, and Consultant Physician, University College London Hospitals. 

He will discuss ‘Leicester Medical School’s influence for half a century on ‘Academic Cardiovascular Medicine in the UK and beyond’. In particular, he will highlight Professors of Medicine and Surgery, John Swales, an academic cardiovascular physician and Sir Peter Bell, an academic vascular surgeon.

The lecture takes place in Hansom Hall, the Leicester Adult Education College, 50-54 Belvoir St, Leicester LE1 6QL, from 7.30pm to 9pm. 

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