New doctors graduate early to help Covid-19 effort in the Highlands
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A new cohort of doctors has graduated early to allow them to support the NHS in its battle against coronavirus.
Some 28 students from the University of Aberdeen have gradated early, with 23 now heading to Inverness, three going to Wick and two to be based in Fort William.
With guidance from the General Medical Council, the graduation date of final year medical students at the university was brought forward by nine weeks so the class of 2020 could be placed on the frontline.
They will take up their new positions under supervision by the end of the month.
Professor Rona Patey, the director of the Institute for Education in Medical and Dental Sciences at Aberdeen University, said: “Our medical graduates will begin their careers by applying their skills and knowledge to support the response to an unprecedented world health crisis.
"We are immensely proud of their achievements and are confident that they are prepared and ready for the challenges ahead.”
Professor Siladitya Bhattacharya, head of the School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, added: “Everything the Class of 2020 have learned over the last five years will be tested in the weeks and months to come and they will succeed because they are absolutely ready.
"We are immensely proud of our new doctors and wish them the very best in these unprecedented times.”
