Senedd member for Vale of Clwyd, Gareth Davies, visited the North Wales Medical School at Bangor University for a tour of the campus and to learn about the teaching and research undertaken at the school.
He was given a run down of the compelling history of the University whilst being shown around some of the elegant buildings on campus by Vice Chancellor, Professor Edmund Burke, Head of Strategic Partnerships and Projects, Chris Drew, and Dean of Medicine, Professor Mike Larvin. The medicine offer started only this year at Bangor, with an arrangement in collaboration with Welsh Government to take students from Cardiff. They have a cancer research institute which leads research on nuclear isotope diagnostics, and have a long history of psychology at the University with many eminent practitioners coming to Bangor to teach or conduct research. Gareth was informed that they have plans for a new School of Pharmacy to open next year with a view to open a dentistry school the following year. Gareth also questioned how many students stay in the area following graduation, being told roughly half do and the other half leave, so it is a net gain for the region, but more can be done to ensure that North Wales retains the talent.
Commenting on his visit, Gareth said:
“It was a please to visit Bangor’s Medical School and see first hand the groundbreaking medical research conducted at the University, hear about the illustrious history of the institution, and learn about the benefits for the area.
“I’d like to thank the North Wales Medical School for showing me around, and I look forward to seeing the medical school expand into new areas of teaching and research in the near future.”
