Errol Solomon Meyers Memorial Lecture

UQMS

The Errol Solomon Meyers Memorial Lecture (E.S. Meyers Memorial Lecture) is an annual free public Lecture hosted by the University of Queensland Medical Society (UQMS) in Brisbane.

Professor Errol Solomon Meyers was a founding father of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Queensland, which was established in 1936 after five decades of advocacy for a medical school in Queensland. A pioneer in professional health education in Queensland, Professor Meyers 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 July 1957, one year after the death of this founding father, the University of Queensland Medical Society established the E.S. 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 particular.

As a reflection of the ethos of Professor Meyers’ life, this Memorial Lecture comprises a forum for a person of distinction to present a perspective of endeavour and achievement. Past speakers include biologist Lord Robert Winston, cricketer and politician Mr Imran Khan, Nobel Laureate Professor Peter Doherty, author Lord Jeffrey Archer and mountaineer and diplomat Sir Edmund Hillary.

Professor Errol Solomon Meyers

Professor Errol Solomon Meyers was a key founder of the University of Queensland School of Medicine. From 1925, he was a leader in postgraduate medical education courses conducted at the British Medical Association (Queensland Branch), and was the doyen of surgical anatomy. A general surgeon and teacher of outstanding ability, Professor 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.

Education was one of Professor Myers’ passions. Discussions around the need for a medical faculty in Queensland began as early as 1893, and from the mid 1920’s Professor Meyers advocated this case strongly. When the Faculty was finally inaugurated in 1936, Professor Meyers was appointed lecturer in anatomy, before becoming Dean in 1941. His standing as a medical educator was such that he was one of only two Australians to be invited to speak at the inaugural World Conference on Medical Education in 1953. Despite all of these accolades, perhaps the best marker of Professor Myers’ success was his standing within the student body. Professor Myers exhibited all of the qualities of an exceptional clinical teacher including a passion for education and enthusiasm for learning. He was much loved, admired and respected by the medical student body for his contribution to medical education.

The University of Queensland Medical Society

The University of Queensland Medical Society (UQMS) is the peak representative body for students at the University of Queensland School of Medicine. As a not-for-profit association that is run by students, for students, the Society’s goal is to advocate, advance and promote the interests of all UQ medical students, enrich the academic and social spheres of medical study, develop and maintain professional links with local, state and national stakeholders, and contribute to the community through its charity initiative, The Ashintosh Foundation.

From its inception in 1936, the UQMS has maintained a significant and respected voice in medicine at a university, state and national level. The Society is lead by an executive of 10 medical students and supported by a team of representatives and convenors in excess of 80 medical students. While many traditions such as the annual May Ball, Sports Day and Trephine magazine have continued to the present day, the activities of the UQMS have expanded in recent years in response to student interest and diversity. Such additions include the establishment of an International Subcommittee, Research Network Subcommittee, Anatomy and Surgical Interest Subcommittee and a satellite office at the Ipswich Campus. The UQMS is also committed to developing world health and Australian Indigenous health through the UQ United Nations Millennium Development Goals Project, a joint initiative between the UQMS and School of Medicine.

Recent Memorial Orators (2000-2010):

2010 – Commander Paul Luckin, Anaesthetist in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve, specialist in Rescue Medicine, “Disasters, rescue and retrieval”

2009 - Dr Rowan Gillies, Former International Council President of Medecins Sans Frontieres. “Challenges in Humanitarian Assistance”

2008 - Professor Graeme Clark, Founder/Pioneer of the Bionic ear. Senior Australian of the Year 2001. “The multi-channel cochlear implant; the first clinically successful sensory interface between the world of sound and human consciousness”

2007 (50th anniversary) - Dr. Charlie Teo, Renowned Australian Neurosurgeon, “That which doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”

2006 - Professor Fiona Wood, 2005 Australian of the Year, “Striving for excellence in health care”

2005 - Professor William P. Schecter, Professor of Clincial Surgery, UCSF Chief of Surgery, San Francisco General Hospital “Terrorist Mass Casualty Events in Israel: Historical Context and Clinical Management”

2004 - Robert C. Gallo, Director, Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland – “HIV in the third decade. Lessons from the Past Experiences and Future Prospects”

2003 - Prof Jonathan Sprent, Professor of Immunology, The Scripps Research Institute, California “T Cells and the Thymus”

2002 - Prof Alan Trounson, “Discussing Embryos and Embryonic Stem Cells: Creating New Medical Directions”

2001 - Prof Earl Owen, Specialist in Microsurgery and Infertility Surgery, Sydney. “Microsurgical Reflections, First Hand”

2000 - Lord Robert Winston, Professor of Fertility Studies, London, “Will We Still Be Human at the End of the 21st Century?”

Full List of Orators

2010 Paul Luckin, Disasters, rescue and retrieval
2009 Rowan Gillies, Challenges in Humanitarian Assistance
2008 Graeme Clark, The multi-channel cochlear implant; the first clinically successful sensory interface between the world of sound and human consciousness
2007 Charles Teo, That which doesn’t kill you makes you stronger
2006 Fiona Wood, Striving for excellence in health care
2005 William P. Schecter, Terrorist Mass Casualty Events in Israel: Historical Context and Clinical Management
2004 Robert C. Gallo, HIV in the third decade. Lessons from the Past Experiences and Future Prospects
2003 Jonathan Sprent, “T Cells and the Thymus”
2002 Alan Trounson “Discussing Embryos and Embryonic Stem Cells: Creating New Medical Directions”
2001 Earl Owen, “Microsurgical Reflections, First Hand”
2000 Robert Winston, “Will We Still Be Human at the End of the 21st Century?”
1999 Mike Toole, Public Health Responses to Humanitarian Crise
1998 Karl Kruszelnicki, Great Moments in Science
1997 Peter C. Doherty, How We Deal With Viral Infections
1996 Grant Sutherland, The Human Genome Project and Medical Practice in the 21st Century
1995 Jeffrey Archer It Takes Nineteen Hours a Day to be a Best-seller
1994 Imran Khan, From Centuries to Service
1993 Gabi Hollows, Vision and Outreach
1992 Edmund Hillary, After Everest: Health, Religion and Education in the Himalayas
1991 Struan Sutherland, Reflections on Venomous Pursuits
1990 Sheila Sherlock, Alcohol and the Liver
1989 Neal Blewett, Care, Concern and Conscience
1988 Victor Chang, The Australian Heart Transplant Programme – Past Progress and Future Dreams
1987 Gustav Nossal, Vision of a New Therapeutic Future
1986 Max Lake, The Excitement of Wine
1985 David Penington, The Future of Medical Practice in Australia
1984 H Baddeley, The Shandong Medical School in China
1983 Arthur Guyton, ”Hypertension: A Current Analysis”
1982 D Saunders, In Vitro Fertilization
1981 N Lickiss, The Quality of Life and Death: The Possibilities and Limits of Medical Practice
1980 L Opit, Medical Practice in Australia
1979 E Parry, Health and Urban Change in Africa
1978 N Groots, Autism in Indians: An Unspoken Problem
1977 Charles Kerr, Uranium and Health
1976 D Llewelly-Jones, Talking Doctors
1975 T Szasz
1974 W Gillies, China: A Medical Visitor’s Viewpoint
1973 P Erbech
1972 Dr Bevan
1971 H Seeliger, The Development of Social and Preventive Medicine in Western Africa
1970 Percy Spender,
1969 Evan Thomson, Training in Surgery
1968 Martin Roth, The Changing Concept of Medical Education
1967 M Carseldine, A GP Reminisces
1966 D Jackson, Changing Attitudes to Paediatrics over the Last 30 Years
1965 T O’Leary, Aerial medical evacuation with special emphasis on the precautions necessary in particular circumstances
1964 K Hirschfeld, Some Aspects of Medical Education
1963 D Gordon, Memories of Joe
1962 WJ Saxton, The Person
1961 AE Lee, Voluntary Health Insurance in Australia
1960 GAC Douglas
1959 FWR Lukin Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow”
1958 [LJJ Nye]
1957 NG Sutton, Comprehensive Medicine