Northern Ireland

Derry medical school a 'momentous' achievement

First Minister Paul Givan (fourth from left) along with, from left: Professor Carol Curran (UU), Health Minister, Robin Swann, Finance Minister, Conor Murphy, Professor Paul Bartholomew (UU) and Professor Louise Dubras (UU) greeted the first students (pictured, back row) to join Ulster University's new Derry Medical School.
First Minister Paul Givan (fourth from left) along with, from left: Professor Carol Curran (UU), Health Minister, Robin Swann, Finance Minister, Conor Murphy, Professor Paul Bartholomew (UU) and Professor Louise Dubras (UU) greeted the first students (pic First Minister Paul Givan (fourth from left) along with, from left: Professor Carol Curran (UU), Health Minister, Robin Swann, Finance Minister, Conor Murphy, Professor Paul Bartholomew (UU) and Professor Louise Dubras (UU) greeted the first students (pictured, back row) to join Ulster University's new Derry Medical School.

THE opening of Ulster University's new medical school has been described as a momentous and landmark achievement.

The first 70 students at the graduate-entry medical school took up their places at the Magee campus in Derry.

Drawn from a wide academic background, the new cohort includes students from all over Ireland as well as Australia.

They will be located in a re-modelled former professor's residence at Magee.

The refurbished school of medicine features high-tech, high-spec facilities which include an anatomy laboratory, clinical and communications’ skills teaching rooms, eight problem-based learning rooms and hub space for collaborative and individual study, relaxation and socialising. In the longer term, there are plans to locate the new school in a permanent home along Derry’s riverfront.

Foundation dean, Professor Louise Dubras said she hoped the new school would encourage a sense of belonging and pride in the north west’s future doctors.

“The presence of the School of Medicine in the heart of the city represents an exciting step on the City Deal journey as the region prepares itself to capitalise on further growth in the burgeoning life sciences sector in Northern Ireland.

“Just six months on from signing the head of terms on the Derry and Strabane City Deal, this marks clear progress towards the delivery of the visionary City Deal,” Professor Dubras said.

First Minister Paul Givan said the opening of the school was a “momentous” day.

"I hope everyone can take a sense of pride in what has been achieved. As our involvement ends, we hand this facility over to the students. It is they who are the most important part of this celebration,” Mr Givan said.

The opening was also welcomed by Deputy First Minister, Michelle O’Neill who described the occasion as a “landmark announcement”.

“The School of Medicine improves significantly the education offering in Magee that will attract students from far and wide. It will create significant long term economic benefits for the region as well as benefiting the wider health service,” Ms O’Neill said.

SDLP leader and Derry MP, Colum Eastwood the school would give young people from the north west an opportunity to study, live and set down roots.

“While this is a positive development for the city, it’s only one part of the promise that was made to people. NDNA (New Decade New Approach) contains a clear commitment to deliver a 10,000-student campus in Derry. That is now the floor of our expectations, nothing less will do,” Mr Eastwood said.