“A Dream Realised” as Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam Officially Opens Ross Lucas Medical Science Building at the Brayford Pool Campus

An official ceremony on 29 November 2022 celebrated the opening of the Ross Lucas Medical Science Building, home to Lincoln Medical School. The £21 million purpose-built building was completed in March 2021 and will help train a future generation of doctors for the region’s hospitals.

The Lincoln Medical School was specifically established with the aim of improving the recruitment and retention of doctors in Lincolnshire by delivering the University of Nottingham’s Medicine and Medicine with Foundation Year degree programmes.

The partnership between the two universities was represented at the opening ceremony by Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam, Honorary Doctor of Science at the University of Lincoln, Pro Vice Chancellor of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Nottingham and former Deputy Chief Medical Officer, who cut the ceremonial ribbon.

Professor Sir Van Tam said: “I was born and educated in Lincolnshire. In all that time, we have struggled greatly to recruit and retain doctors in the county. A medical school where we can ‘train our own doctors’ was so badly needed and finally that dream has been realised.
“I am looking forward to seeing the first cohort of doctors trained in Lincoln begin service in the NHS in 2024.”

Vice Chancellor Neal Juster spoke at the opening event and said: “The University and the Ross Lucas Medical Sciences Building are symbols of how education can impact positively on a place, and the people in it. This university is not just the University of Lincoln, it’s the University for Lincoln.

“The people of Lincolnshire took the idea of the University to their hearts, it was theirs, they built it, and they will ensure we continue to create the future opportunities this region deserves. This building shows that we will continue to respond to local needs and work in genuine partnerships with employers and our communities.”

The Ross Foundation, founded by Dr David Ross and Lincoln born Rob Lucas donated £1 million each toward the establishment of the medical school building which is now co-named in their honour. Later in the day David Ross also delivered a Great Lives lecture to people from across the region including students from Skegness Grammar School.

Professor Danny McLaughlin, Dean of Medicine at Lincoln Medical School, commented: “It’s an incredibly exciting time for our first cohort of Lincoln Medical School students who are on the cusp of starting the clinical phase of their degrees and are due to start work as doctors in 2024.

“We are all absolutely delighted with our new home at the University of Lincoln’s stunning Brayford Pool Campus. Our future generation of doctors can now benefit from purpose-built lecture theatres, laboratories, clinical skills and prosection anatomy suites equipped with cutting-edge diagnostic tools, and a dedicated biomedical and health sciences library.

“Completion of this flagship building during the pandemic has been a remarkable achievement and all those involved in the planning, design, building and vision deserve congratulation.”

The Ross Lucas Medical Sciences Building itself is the most environmentally friendly on the Brayford Campus, boasting solar panels to produce carbon zero electricity and innovative features including a living ‘green wall’ which supports the heating and cooling of the building.