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First graduates for Exeter Medical School

Five years down, two to go. If you want to be a doctor you've got to have patience

They declare new medical oath too

The first students have graduated from Exeter Medical School today.

The 88 health professionals have spent five years studying at the city's university. They're not doctors yet - they've two years more on-the-job training to do - so they now move into roles in the NHS. But they do now have their degree.

At Tuesday's graduation ceremony, the students took their own new version of the medical oath - and invited other doctors at the graduation ceremony to join them in declaring it. This emphasized their commitment to service and care, advancing knowledge and life-long learning and teaching, and to maintaining their own health and well-being.

Medicine graduate Luke Tester says: “ It’s been a team journey between students, peers and staff and today is a celebration for all of us.”

Professor Clive Ballard, Executive Dean of the Medical School, says: “I’m so proud of all our students, who have demonstrated a commitment to care and to leadership and innovation. This is a huge achievement for them, and for all the staff who have provided world-class education and support. Our students are extremely well prepared to deliver high-quality care, and I’m looking forward to seeing all they go on to achieve in taking the NHS in new directions.”

To mark the achievements of all graduates, the Medical School hosted a celebration open to graduating medical students, and to students graduating from the Medical Sciences and Medical Imaging programmes, as well as graduating postgraduate students.

The University of Exeter Medical School was set up in 2012, when the universities of Exeter and Plymouth agreed to end their partnership-run Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry (PCMD). The first Exeter medicine students began the new programme in September 2013. The Medical School is expanding both staff and student numbers. This year Exeter has been granted permission to train 88 additional Medicine students per year.

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