A special ceremony marked the start of Homecoming — the unveiling of a historic medical bag belonging to the distinguished Canadian physician Dr. Ernest B. Struthers, who worked as a doctor in China and Korea during the 1950s and 60s.
Dr. Struthers’ grandson, Dr. Doug McKim, shared stories of the bag’s travels, while the Faculty’s historian of science and medicine, Dr. Susan Lamb, spoke about the uses of the items it contained.
“This rare artifact illustrates the evolution of the medical profession in Canada,” said Dr. Lamb. “It allows us a peek back in time so that we may reflect on our common denominator throughout history — our devotion to the field of medicine.”
The much-anticipated reunion was a heartwarming event that began on Friday, October 4 at the Canada Science and Technology Museum where the dean, Dr. Bernard Jasmin, hosted a welcome reception.
“It was inspirational to witness our alumni reconnect,” said Dr. Jasmin. “It was particularly satisfying, on the cusp of the Faculty’s 75th anniversary next year, to interact with those who have helped to chart our course, and to reflect on how our professions have evolved.”
Many alumni attended the Panda Game and the Faculty of Medicine gala on Saturday, October 5, while others chose to hold private class gatherings. For MD class of 1964, classmates spoke of how their wives’ friendships were integral to keeping their class together throughout the many decades since graduation.
Homecoming festivities concluded with a cozy Sunday brunch on October 6 where alumni, friends and family gathered to enjoy their final day together. The brunch featured an awards ceremony that conferred the 2019 Alumni Awards of Distinction, and recognized the anniversary classes with milestone certificates. The dean expressed tremendous gratitude to alumni who made contributions through individual giving or class gifts to help medical students.
The Faculty of Medicine would like to thank all those alumni, friends and family members who attended this year’s Homecoming Weekend. You made it a truly memorable reunion.
Visit the Faculty of Medicine’s Flickr account to view the Homecoming Weekend photo album and see you all next year!
