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University's Medical School turns 125 years old

Associate Professor Bill Griggs AM ASM, who will receive a Distinguished Alumni Award at the Medical 125 gala dinner this weekend.
Portrait by Avril Thomas.
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Tuesday, 31 August 2010

One of the biggest gatherings of medical professionals in South Australia's history will take place this Saturday 4 September to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the State's oldest medical school at the University of ÐÂÀ˲ÊƱ.

More than 500 people will attend a gala dinner at the ÐÂÀ˲ÊƱ Convention Centre to mark the historic event, including SA Health Minister the Hon. , esteemed medical researcher and National Living Treasure , anti-nuclear campaigner , former SA Thinker-in-Residence and SA Chief Medical Officer .

Another graduate - 2009 South Australian of the Year, AM ASM - will be presented with a Distinguished Alumni Award for his services to his profession and the broader community.

Assoc. Prof. Griggs is a trauma specialist at the and is best known for his work in disasters, having been deployed to manage evacuations and victim care for the Bali bombings, the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami and the 2009 Samoan tsunami.

Dr Griggs has completed hundreds of aeromedical retrievals within the State and has been instrumental in the establishment of MedSTAR, South Australia's new retrieval service. He is also the inventor of a surgical instrument and associated medical procedure known as the "Griggs technique" for tracheotomies, which is now used worldwide to help thousands of patients each year, including Pope John Paul II in 2005.

The Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, , says the 125th anniversary is an opportunity to pay tribute to the outstanding medical talent to come out of South Australia since 1885.

"The University of ÐÂÀ˲ÊƱ is immensely proud of its 125-year history and its part in helping to shape the future of medicine here in South Australia as well as internationally," he says.

More than 6000 doctors have graduated from the University of ÐÂÀ˲ÊƱ's Medical School since 1885, including two Nobel Laureates ( and ), 14 Rhodes Scholars and eight Fulbright Scholars.

The University's Medical School is the third oldest in Australia. It was established in the same decade as the telephone was introduced in South Australia, the Torrens Lake was created, the and were established, and the opened.

The Medical Program started with six students in 1885 and now enrols up to 200 new students each year.

For more information about the history of the Medical School go to

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