Aberdeen medics join COVID-19 fight
Medical students at the University of Aberdeen are graduating early to help support the NHS in the COVID-19 pandemic.
The graduation date of final year medical students has been brought forward by two months with guidance from the General Medical Council (GMC). The new doctors will begin work in a “supported and supervised environment” across Scotland and the UK by the end of April.
Today our medical students will graduate 2 months early so they can volunteer to help the NHS with the coronavirus effort. We can't have a traditional ceremony but that doesn't mean we can't do something to mark the occasion… #wearetogether #ABDNFamily #covid19 🎓 👏 🎉 pic.twitter.com/ObOt1kFHkT
— University of Aberdeen (@aberdeenuni) April 17, 2020
Professor Rona Patey, director of the Institute for Education in Medical and Dental Sciences at Aberdeen University, said:
“Our medical graduates will begin their careers by applying their skills and knowledge to support the response to an unprecedented world health crisis.
“We are immensely proud of their achievements and are confident that they are prepared and ready for the challenges ahead.”
The student cohort will swear an oath which has been taken by Aberdeen medical graduates since the 1880s which marks “their success and transition into one of the world’s most trusted professions”.
Callum Eddie, 23 and from Aberdeen, will spend the next two years working as a junior doctor in his home city. His mother is a GP. He said:
“Being a doctor is all I’ve ever wanted to be so I am looking forward to doing what I can. In the last few weeks I have been in awe of the NHS. Every single person working, or volunteering, has been absolutely incredible, and it has been amazing to hear everyone’s support every Thursday evening too.
“I am sure my classmates would agree, the way we can contribute to the effort to tackle COVID-19 is to do literally whatever is needed. The way I see it is, we are all in this together, healthcare professionals and the general public included, and if we all continue working together as a team we will get through this.”