It is with sadness that we advise faculty of the death last Sunday, after a brief illness, of Dr Valerie Grant. Val studied psychology at The University of Auckland, later specialising in evolutionary psychology. She taught at our School of Medicine for 34 years, first in Behavioural Science, later in Medical Ethics and the Humanities. Val was a strong advocate for a central role for ethics in medical practice.

Born into a Methodist parsonage in Dunedin, and later living at Trinity Methodist College Auckland where her father was the principal, Valerie had a life-long interest in religion and the search for meaning. Val’s husband Kelvin practiced as an architect prior to his death in 2008, and Val is survived by two sons, Paul and Bruce along with four grandsons. A warm, generous friend to many at faculty, Val will be remembered with great affection. Val's funeral service will be held at the Maclaurin Chapel on Saturday (8 December) at 1pm.

• Dr Tony Fernando, Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychological Medicine (SOM) who this week was awarded a Presidential Award for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Oversas at a ceremony at the President’s Palace in Manilla. The award, part of a series of awards established more than 20 years ago by former President Corazon C. Aquino, recognised Tony’s work here in medical education, wellbeing and sleep medicine.
  
  
• Lisa (Fanny) Zheng who has recently completed her Biomedical Science honours course at MMP under the direction of Associate Professor Thomas Proft and who last week took top place in the poster category at the annual New Zealand Microbiology Society (NZMS) meeting in Dunedin. Lisa’s poster title was: "Cloning, expression and functional analysis of a putative Group A streptococcal adenosine synthase". This week Lisa started a summer studentship at ANU in Canberra; she will be back to start a PhD in the department of MMP next year.
  
  
• Dr Sharad P Paul, an honorary Senior Lecturer with the Department of Surgery who recently was awarded the NZMA’s Chair’s Award, an annual honour recognising an individual or organisation which has made a substantial contribution to the health of New Zealanders. Dr Paul trained as a doctor in Madras, India, and came to New Zealand in 1991. He became a Fellow of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners in 1999, and gained a Master of Philosophy in Medical Law and Ethics from the University of Glasgow in 2002. He is also a Fellow of the Skin Cancer College of Australasia and interestingly is the published author of two literary fiction novels, Cool Cut (Picador 2007) and To Kill a Snow Dragonfly (4th Estate, Harper Collins 2012). Outside of medicine Dr Paul runs an award winning café and bookstore called the Baci Lounge, in Newmarket, the proceeds of which are used to fund literacy programmes in low decile Auckland schools, with the aim of helping children to “dream with their eyes wide open.” He has also served on the National Commission of UNESCO.

This week two Hauora Māori scholars in our medical programme were awarded $10,000 John McLeod Scholarships. These are funded through the Māori Provider Development Scheme with the aim of growing Māori participation in the health and disability workforce. The scholarships are named for Dr John McLeod, recognised nationally and internationally for his work in public health and contribution to Māori health. They are presented to high academic achievers who also show selfless commitment to their colleagues and communities. We salute:

•  Eugene Michael (Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Tūwharetoa), a qualified pharmacist who changed pathways and has now completed his sixth year of his MBChB and joined the ADHB
•  Reuben Kirk (Ngāi Tūhoe) who starts third year of his MBChB in 2013 and who already boasts a Masters of Health Practice in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy.

Caption: John McLeod Scholarship winners Eugene Michael (left), Reuben Kirk and Karl McLeod, Dr John McLeod’s son.

The Gluckman Medal for 2012 has been awarded to Professor John Windsor, Department of Surgery. The faculty will celebrate this at the Grafton Campus this coming Monday 10 December at midday with the Gluckman Medal presentation followed by the Peter Gluckman Distinguished International Lecture to be delivered by Professor Windsor. John has called his lecture "Streams in the Desert" and will examine the experimental work being undertaken by the Pancreas Research Group which he has established.

The Gluckman Medal is awarded for outstanding contributions to research, teaching and service within the faculty, and in awarding the 2012 prize the selection panel cited John’s very strong research, his outstanding commitment to excellence in clinical teaching and his contributions as a highly successful Head of Department of Surgery. I would encourage as many as can attend this celebration to pop the date into their diaries.

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A final reminder that the FMHS Faculty Christmas barbeque will be held at Grafton next Thursday 13 December starting at 12.30pm. While many departments are keen to make their own plans and arrangements for this busy year-end period, we suggest you might anchor the all-faculty barbeque in your diaries and work other engagements around the barbeque afternoon.

• 2012 Peter Gluckman Medal Presentation and Distinguished International Lecture: 'Streams in the Desert' presented by Professor John Windsor. Monday 10 December, 12-1.30pm, Lecture Theatre 505-007, Grafton Campus.  Add to your calendar
• PharmaTell seminar: 'Supercritical fluids – what are they? A case for the delivery of brick dust bioactives' presented by James Falconer; and 'Nanoparticles for drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier' presented by Alvin Zhou. Tuesday 11 December, 12-1pm, Room 505-364, Grafton Campus. 
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• Liggins Institute seminar: 'Healthy homework: A physical activity and nutrition intervention for children' presented by Dr Scott Duncan. Wednesday 12 December, 3.30-4.30pm, Seminar Room 505-003, Grafton Campus.   Add to your calendar
• Auckland Nutrition Research Network: For more information please contact, Clare Wall c.wall@auckland.ac.nz . Wednesday 12 December, 5-7pm, Seminar Room 505-007, Grafton Campus.   Add to your calendar
• Faculty Keynote Presentation: 'Assessment for professionalism' presented by Professor Lambert Schuwirth. Friday 14 December, 1-2pm, Room 501-110, Grafton Campus.  
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