A very warm welcome to the start of your medical careers here in Manchester with us! We are so excited to be part of this, where it all begins for you, our doctors of the future. Manchester is the oldest provincial and the largest medical school in the UK, and we are proud you have chosen to study Medicine with us. We are dedicated to making your time here with us the best it can be, and we care about each and every single one of you.

Medicine is such an exciting subject to study because it changes all the time, and it never stands still. Medicine is moving forward constantly, with new discoveries, new tests, and new treatments, all resulting in new hope for patients and their families where there was no hope before. The way I practice Medicine now is totally different to the way it was just 10 years ago, let alone 30 years ago when I was in your position – and it will be the same for all of you. You are not embarking on a simple degree course with us, you are joining the medical profession and embarking on a lifetime of learning, of discovery and of walking together with your many patients, colleagues and students throughout your medical careers. It is such a privilege to learn and to practice Medicine, and I hope it brings you the fulfilment and joy it brings me, every day.

Whilst you are with us in Manchester you will be able to learn from some of the most dedicated and inspirational tutors, doctors, and many, many others who will support and guide you through the early stages of your medical career. You will be surrounded by some of the best professionals there are, delivering medical education, research and clinical care that is really amazing. Please take the opportunities available to you to learn from all of them, and from the many patients and their families who will let you into their lives and their experiences of health, and ill health, love and loss, and their many experiences so you can learn to be their doctors of the future.

Medicine is challenging, for all of us, and all of us need support from time to time. Indeed it is good to recognise and to ask for support when you need it, it is a sign of strength; and when you do, we are here for you. Any of us – your tutors, academic advisors, supervisors, semester leads, year leads, and programme leaders including me, and especially the student support pastoral service (SPS) so do reach out to us when you need us, and we will be here for you.

May I also encourage you to enjoy the many sights and sounds our local cities and the beautiful surrounding countryside offer – our region is full of fun and is gorgeous, and on your doorstep! Also do take advantage of the many societies, volunteering and sporting opportunities on offer for you as a student at Manchester – we are such a rich and diverse University, and this is all here for you.

I look forward to meeting you all at our welcome events, as we mark your progress through the course, and perhaps some of you will join me in my clinics, on ward rounds or undertake attachments or projects with me, and if you want to drop me a line or pop by my office in the Stopford building for a chat please do!

With my best wishes,

Margaret

Professor Margaret Kingston, Director of Undergraduate Medical Studies