The Faculty of Medicine was established in 1936 after five decades of advocacy for a medical school in what was to become the State of Queensland.  Many laboured to achieve the opportunity for careers in medicine for Queensland men and women.

 

One of the acknowledged founding fathers was Dr Errol Solomon Meyers.  A pioneer in professional health education in Queensland, he was a leader in postgraduate medical education and undergraduate and postgraduate dental education prior to the establishment of the Faculties of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Queensland in 1936.  From 1925, he was a leader in postgraduate medical educated courses conducted at the British Medical Association (Queensland Branch) and was the doyen of surgical anatomy.  A general surgeon and teacher of singular ability, ES Meyers taught anatomy and surgical dissection to dental students in Brisbane from 1922, establishing an Anatomy School within the Dental Hospital in George Street in 1927.  From that time, Dr Meyers brought the strength of his considerable personality to bear on the need to establish a School of Medicine in Queensland, a triumph achieved finally on 13 March 1936.

 

In July 1957, the year after the death of this founding father, the UQMS established the ES Meyers Memorial Lecture to honour his contributions to medicine in general, and to his role as one of the most significant founders of the Medical School in Queensland in particular.  As a reflection of the ethos of “Joe” Meyers’ life this Memorial Lecture comprises a forum for a person of distinction to present a perspective of endeavour and achievement.  Previous guest speakers include: Dr. Victor Chang (1988), Mr. Imran Khan (1994) and Lord Jeffrey Archer (1995).

 

This year we invite Dr Rowan Gillies, former international president of Medecins Sans Frontiers, as the 2009 ES Meyers Lecture Orator. His talk, entitled "Challenges in Humanitarian Assistance" is set to be engaging, challenging, exciting, and above all, inspirational to all who attend.