NZ-UK Link Foundation Barber Surgeon Fellowship
18 November 2008
The NZ-UK Link Foundation Barber Surgeon Fellowship enables a New Zealand medical graduate to continue medical study in the UK. It is offered in conjunction with the Worshipful Company of Barber Surgeons, a London Guild.
The 2008 award has been given to Akbar Ashrafy (pictured), a fifth year medical student at the Auckland Medical School. He is the fifteenth recipient of the Fellowship and spent a month in June/July undertaking his six week general surgery and cardiology elective at Oxford's John Ratcliffe and Churchill hospitals. He was presented with his £500 award, by the Master of the Worshipful Company, Dr Adam Lewis (and the chairman of the Guild's Charity Committee, Chris Sprague at the Barber Surgeons’ Livery Hall in London in July.
“As a medical student from the other side of the world, the opportunity to pursue my medical elective at the UK’s best medical school was exciting at the very least," Akbar says. "In only eight weeks at Oxford Medical School I have fitted well into my teams and have gained further insight in a number of areas, both specifically regarding surgery as a speciality and more generally about the NHS and the University of Oxford. I have gleaned a myriad of positive experiences which I can take back to New Zealand. I have met some amazing people and have made life long friendships with like minded people from around the world.
"I would like to acknowledge the contribution of the NZ-UK Link Foundation and the Worshipful Company of Barber Surgeons for their kind Fellowship which helped in facilitate this inspiring elective. In particular, I was privileged to be awarded the scholarship at the illustrious Barber-Surgeon’s Hall as an honorary guest to one of the Company’s luncheons. The scholarship was awarded by the Master of the Worshipful Company of Barber Surgeons, Dr Adam Lewis.”
The 2009 Bursar, from the Christchurch School of Medicine of Otago University will be Rachel Lee.
This Bursary is given each year by the Worshipful Company of Barber Surgeons to commemorate the former Governor General of New Zealand Sir Arthur Porritt, who not only became an eminent surgeon, but in his youth had been an international standard athlete, winning the bronze medal for the 100m at the 1924 Paris “Chariots of Fire” Olympic Games behind Harold Abrahams.
Each year, alternating between Auckland and Otago universities, through the NZ-UK Link Foundation, a New Zealand medical or dental student is given a grant to help fund an elective in the UK. The Barber Surgeons Company is a generous benefactor of medical studies in the UK, reminding us of when Barbers not only cut hair, but pulled teeth and let blood.
Previous Barber Surgeon Fellows are: 1992 Helen Chidgey; 1993 Susan Wright; 1994 Fiona McCrimmon; 1995 Dean Kilfoyle and Amanda Ashley; 1996 Craig Gedye; 1997 Laura Young; 1998 Rebecca Stack; 1999 Kathleen Reid; 2001 Henry Kwok; 2004 Kim Gear; 2005 Anna Taylor; 2006 Harriet Kennedy; 2007 Micaela Yee.