Former International President of Médecins Sans Frontières, Dr Rowan Gillies, will continue a proud tradition when he gives the E S Meyers Memorial Lecture at UQ this Friday.
Dr Gillies follows in the footsteps of previous speakers including Sir Edmund Hilary, Imran Khan and Dr Charles Teo to deliver the free public address at the UQ Centre on August 21.
UQ Medical Society president Tanya Trinh said people from all walks of life would benefit from Dr Gillies’ insights into the often dangerous world of international peacekeeping.
“In addition to having served as a field doctor in many countries including Sierra Leone, Liberia, Afghanistan and Sudan, Dr Gillies led many of the strategical developments of MSF within politically unstable and often dangerous territories,” Ms Trinh said.
“We believe that everyone will come away with some token of insight into the difficulties and realities of humanitarian assistance.”
Dr Gillies became president of MSF Australia at just 31, and was later elected International Council President of MSF. At the time, the Nobel Prize-winning organisation operated under a $620 million annual budget and worked in more than 70 countries.
Since 1957, The E S Meyers Memorial Lecture has honoured the life and work of Dr Errol Solomon Meyers, a founder of the UQ School of Medicine and a pioneer teacher of both general and surgical anatomy in Queensland.
UQMS Patron and respected Brisbane paediatrician Professor John Pearn said the lecture was a highlight of the academic year.
“It’s one of the best nights out in respect to public lectures in Queensland and a wonderful showcase for UQ,” Professor Pearn said.
Ms Trinh said audience members travelled from across Australia to attend each year, with donations from the evening assisting a range of charities including the Ashintosh Trust, run by UQMS.
One of the trust’s major projects is the Teddy Bear Hospital, which aims to educate children about medical care in a safe and non-threatening environment.
The 2009 E S Meyers Memorial Lecture will be held at the UQ Centre, St Lucia at 6.30pm for a 7pm start. Refreshments will be served following the event. All are welcome.
Media: Tanya Trinh (0401 237 555) or Cameron Pegg at UQ Communications (07 3365 2049, c.pegg@uq.edu.au)
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