Acting Dean's Newsletter - January 2007

This is the first of a series of monthly newsletters updating you with some of the activities within the Medical School. Many other issues will be covered in subsequent issues. In this issue:

Medical Program Curriculum Review
Professors Kerry Goulston and Kim Oates are currently producing the final report on the Medical Program curriculum review. I am delighted at the valuable contributions from all across the Medical School; it augurs well for a report that will be of great help to us.

Kerry and Kim will discuss their recommendations at a meeting on 16 March to which we are inviting as many members of Medical School as we reasonably can. The recommendations will then be formally considered by the Medical School at its meeting on 4 April 2007. This will leave us with a tight implementation timetable for the first stage of changes proposed for Stages 1 and 3 in 2008 and Stages 2 and 4 in 2009.

Rural Cohort Study
The Faculties of Health, through the School of Rural Health of Sydney Medical School, are planning a rural cohort study focusing on determinants of physical and mental wellbeing in children and adolescents (10-18 years) in rural New South Wales. The aim of this collaborative, cross-faculty study is to provide information leading to a better understanding of the major health issues facing rural children and adolescents. For more information on this initiative contact Catherine Hawke -

Applicants to Combined Medicine programs
This year we added the Music/Medicine and Arts/Medicine combined programs to the Science/Medicine and Medical Science/Medicine programs. I was astounded by the extraordinary quality of the young applicants whom we have interviewed and am delighted that these stellar students will be joining us in the Medical Program in a few years time.

Faculties of Health
Sydney Medical School is now part of the broader Faculties of Health together with the Faculties of Nursing and Midwifery, Pharmacy and Dentistry and with the Faculty of Health Sciences expected to come on board in the near future. The Deans of these Faculties are well into discussions on how we can work more closely and share resources. Plans are most developed with regard to a joint International Office (see item below) and discussions are underway on other shared activities such as rural and Indigenous curriculum and student recruitment and support and on inter-professional learning.

Faculties of Health International Office
The Deans of the Faculties of Health have agreed to establish a joint International Office. We are glad to have Professor Robyn Norton (Associate Dean (International)) leading the team consisting of Dr Lyndal Trevena (Sub Dean), Diane Ranck and Louise Freckelton. The team is currently working on strategic objectives for the office. For more information contact Lyndal Trevena -

Welcome to Biomedical Sciences
The School of Biomedical Sciences, formerly part of the Faculty of Health Sciences, has now joined the School of Medical Sciences. While the staff remain physically located at the Cumberland campus in Lidcombe, they are now part of Sydney Medical School. I hope you will spend some time getting to know our new colleagues and I would encourage you to look at identifying where mutually useful connections can be made.
www3.fhs.usyd.edu.au/bio

Bruce Robinson
Acting Dean