Homecoming 2015: A time to reconnect

October 8, 2015 at 3:45 pm

pruthi 600What a wonderful Homecoming week it’s been as we celebrated and reconnected with University of Manitoba College of Medicine alumni from across North America and the University of Manitoba launched ourFront & Centre campaign.

On October 3, 2015 more than 150 Medicine alumni joined us at the Bannatyne campus for the Dean’s Homecoming breakfast and tours as part of their milestone reunions. This year we welcomed back alumni from across North America from the Classes of 1960, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990 and 1995.

“Our students are graduating with the skills and experience required to be exceptional health care providers,” said President and Vice-Chancellor David Barnard. “We want to continue to invest in our university to ensure we attract and retain the best and brightest and offer a student experience that is second to none. This requires a bold vision.”

He shared the Front & Centre campaign video, which captures the passion and purpose of our university. The campaign was officially launched during half time at the Blue Bomber game later that day at which time the U of M announced it had raised nearly $216 M towards our fundraising goal of $500 M.

Sandhya Pruthi [MD/90] (pictured above) who was celebrating her 25th class reunion also spoke at the breakfast. As a breast cancer specialist at the Mayo Clinic, she has developed a sophisticated computerized program that features illustrations to help educate her patients about her illness. Dr. Pruthi spoke glowingly of how her education at the University of Manitoba prepared her for her future career as a medical trailblazer.tables

“I really cherish and value what I got from the University of Manitoba medical school and every time people at the Mayo clinic asks me where I got my training I always proudly say the U of M medical school,” Pruthi said. “My teachers and professors taught me about the social concerns of health, giving back to your community, being a compassionate and empathic physician and being an innovator and visionary. I can see how those values prepared me for my career at the Mayo clinic.”

Listening to Dr. Pruthi reminded me once again of how proud I am of our alumni and the positive impact they are having around the world. And that instilling in our students a commitment to social responsibility and accountability is a long and important tradition in the Faculty of Health Sciences.

While some of our alumni visit the campus frequently, many work here, others were returning after a long time away. That’s why it was a pleasure to have our alumni see some of the College of Medicine’s latest advances – and plans for the future- during tours of the Clinical Learning and Simulation Program’s skills lab, the Gross Anatomy Lab and the Neil John Maclean Health Sciences Library.

Homecoming is a time to reconnect with your alma mater and to reminisce. Thank you to all of our alumni for coming and being part of this year’s celebration.

What is a favourite memory from one of your class reunions?