For Dr Patsandra Lam, attending the Melbourne Dental School (MDS) milestone reunion was a chance to reconnect with the University campus and community that gave her so many memories.
“I haven't been back for a long time and it’s great to see old friends,” said the 2003 alum who now lives in Sydney.
“I enjoyed seeing the new dental school building and receiving an update from the Deputy Head on the exciting things that have been happening.”
Patsandra Lam (centre) catching up with fellow alumni at the reunion.
Hosted at Science Gallery Melbourne, the reunion on Friday 24 November brought together the Bachelor of Dental Science classes of 1993, 2003 and 2013 – celebrating 10-, 20- and 30-year reunions respectively.
Starting with an opportunity to privately view the latest gallery exhibition Dark Matters, alumni then enjoyed a cocktail reception and shared memories over drinks and canapés.
Celebrating past decades
Alumni from across the three milestone cohorts spoke to their fellow classmates, recalling fond memories and celebrating each other’s successes.
2013 alum Dr Francis Chan took to the podium first and didn’t shy away from using dentistry puns to entertain his audience.
“Tonight is a fantastic opportunity to re-form some dental bonds,” said Dr Chan.
“We learned to fill cavities, and many of us have now filled our lives with growing families and budding practices. We've each had our own unique pathway and contributed to our communities in different ways.”
Throughout the night, attendees took photos together in front of the alumni photo wall.
1993 alum Dr Adam Rose shared some memories and reflected on how much has changed since he and his classmates attended the University of Melbourne.
“Remember the days in the old dental hospital? Back then, there were no online textbooks or online journals and we spent many, many hours at the photocopier,” he shared.
Before closing out the toasts for the evening, Dr Rose said “we all have recollections from our time as students and I'm just going to suggest that we share those stories tonight, because there's lots of them!”
University news and benefits
Deputy Head of MDS Associate Professor Rebecca Wong updated the alumni community on the latest news from the University.
She shared some insights on the position of MDS as a leading international institution and also explained its strategic direction for the future.
“We remain committed to being a world-class teaching and research institution with entry-to-practice graduates and strong industry partnerships,” shared A/Prof Wong.
Deputy Head of MDS Associate Professor Rebecca Wong addressing alumni at the reunion.
“The University of Melbourne is the only Australian university that's currently ranked in the top 50 internationally, so we're well-placed to take advantage of all the opportunities that will arise due to our federal government’s focus on research impact and transformation.”
A/Prof Wong then spoke of the alumni publication Dent-AL as a valuable resource to all alumni in attendance.
“This year, the publication included an interview with Associate Professor Matt Hopcraft about his research into the extent of psychological distress in our profession, and the importance of education and awareness of this issue.”
Before concluding her address, A/Prof Wong took the opportunity to thank alumni in attendance for all they do to create a vibrant and supportive alumni community at MDS.
“I'd like to thank you for your contributions and continuing engagement; to the mentors in our mentoring program, to those who offer placements to our school, to those who organise activities and reunions like these, and to those who donate towards scholarships through appeals.”
Re-forming friendships
As to why they decided to attend the reunion, alumni of MDS each shared different perspectives.
2013 alum Dr Megan MacNeil was excited for an opportunity to meet old friends in a nice venue.
“I think that the older you get, the more isolated you get, and it's harder to make friends and connect with people that have gone through similar struggles and triumphs,” shared Megan.
“At a reunion, there's a chance that you could re-make old friends, and that's something that's pretty precious.”
1993 alum Dr Renae Welsh reflected on how her cohort was very close, as they had to spend much more time on campus without the internet than current students do.
Renae Welsh (centre) catching up with old classmates at the reunion.
“A lot of old classmates I do get to see quite a bit, but then there's others that I don't get to see very often, and so catching up with them is so nice because we created such a strong bond,” said Renae.
Other attendees shared words of encouragement to those in the University’s alumni community who feel unsure about attending a reunion.
“It's not an event that happens all the time, only every 20th or 30th year, so definitely make an effort to come,” said Patsandra.
Alum Dr Leo Stella reflected on the long-standing warmth and friendships shared within his 1993 cohort, saying that reunions are an opportunity to catch up with like-minded people.
“You have to get out there, see each other and make the connections,” said Leo, “life’s just too short.”
Learn more about upcoming alumni events and reunions for University of Melbourne alumni.