We celebrated the Faculty of Medicine’s 130th anniversary last weekend with an unforgettable Med in the City gala that honoured our faculty’s past achievements while giving back to the community we serve.

Thank you to everyone who attended and supported this milestone gala. It was a great evening!

Canadian commentator Rex Murphy, emcee, set the tone for the evening with a few very funny political jibes (lots of fodder out there these days!) and a remark about how happy he was to be in Winnipeg – and away from Toronto!

Since the Faculty of Medicine was founded in 1883 as Western Canada’s first medical school with 13 students, we have graduated over 7,100 MDs who have gone on to become world renowned health researchers, influential medical leaders and caring physicians.

Throughout our history, the Faculty has provided excellence in medical education, training and research, while instilling a strong sense of social responsibility among our students.

The gala, attended by over 400 medical faculty members and staff, alumni, physicians, students, partners and supporters, was held at the Fairmont Winnipeg and benefitted the Faculty of Medicine’s inner-city initiatives.

The Biomedical Youth Program (BYP) aims to improve science literacy among under-represented and disadvantaged youth by providing opportunities for hands–on science activities, and encouraging careers in the health professions through the Inner-City Science Centre, annual summer camp, and Science Buddies clubs.

Chelsea McCallum, who participated in Science Buddies for two years, stood at the podium and told a room full of strangers about the bronze science fair medal she won. It was a brave moment for the Grade 9 student from Saint Aidan’s Christian School in Winnipeg’s north end.

“I appreciated the work of my mentor; he helped guide me through the science fair process. He taught me things like you have to do an experiment three times and not to lose your data,” said McCallum, who won the medal at the Manitoba Schools’ Science Symposium for her project “Mix it up!”

We were all moved to hear her first-hand account of the positive impact of one of the Faculty of Medicine’s outreach programs.

As a medical school there are many things we can do to address health inequities such as instilling our students with the principles of social responsibility, advocating for support of education as a determinant of health, and creating pipeline programs to diversify our student populations in the health professions.

As a faculty, we are proud to support our pipeline programs and continue a strong sense of social accountability amongst our learners and faculty members through initiatives such as the student-run Jacob Penner Park drop-in program, WISH Clinic and the recent faculty-led Habitat for Humanity house build.

Proceeds from the Med in the City 130th Anniversary Gala will be directed to the following programs:
• BIOMEDICAL YOUTH PROGRAM
• MINI-U CAMPS ON BANNATYNE
• SWISH
• WINNIPEG INTERPROFESSIONAL STUDENT RUN HEALTH CLINIC (WISH Clinic)

What makes you proud of your connection to U of M Faculty of Medicine?