ES Meyers Memorial Lecture returns in 2021

An image of the Mayne Medical School building at UQ's Herston campus.

The keenly anticipated ES Meyers Memorial Lecture returns to UQ on 6 March this year, from 6.30–8.30pm, with highly regarded gynaecologist Dr Vijay Roach confirmed as the guest speaker.

The University of Queensland Medical Society (UQMS) event has a long and rich history since it was established in 1957 in honour of Professor Errol Solomon Meyers, who was a pioneer of professional medical education in Australia in the early 20th century and a founding father of the UQ School of Medicine.

Professor Errol Solomon Meyers in 1940. Image: University of Queensland Archives

Unfortunately the 2020 annual lecture had to be postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions. Now some of the restrictions have lifted, ES Meyers Memorial Lecture co-convenor Unni Kumar said that the rescheduled lecture, titled 'Mind over Medicine', boasted a prestigious speaker and would be held in the GHD Auditorium – inside the Advanced Engineering Building (49) at UQ’s St Lucia campus.

“Dr Vijay Roach is the President of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (RANZCOG), and regularly advocates for mental health and wellbeing of medical practitioners and students,” Mr Kumar said.


“The lecture is a premier academic event on the UQMS calendar and the largest of its kind in Queensland, attracting an audience of UQ medical students, staff and alumni, as well as members of the general community."

“As a reflection of Professor Meyers’ life, the lecture provides a forum for a person of distinction to present a perspective of endeavour and achievement.”

Each year, the UQMS invites a luminary in the fields of medicine, science, media, the arts, government or diplomacy as the event’s keynote speaker.

Past speakers have included mountaineer and diplomat Sir Edmund Hillary (1992); cricketer, humanitarian and current Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan (1994); internationally acclaimed author and Nobel Laureate Professor Peter Doherty AC (1997); and ABC journalist and author Leigh Sales (2018).

An image of Professor Errol Solomon Meyers in 1940.

Professor Errol Solomon Meyers in 1940. Image: University of Queensland Archives

Professor Errol Solomon Meyers in 1940. Image: University of Queensland Archives

An image of mountaineer and diplomat Sir Edmund Hillary.

Mountaineer and diplomat Sir Edmund Hillary. Image: Thierry PRAT/Sygma via Getty Images

Mountaineer and diplomat Sir Edmund Hillary. Image: Thierry PRAT/Sygma via Getty Images

An image of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. Image: EuropaNewswire/Gado/Getty Images

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. Image: EuropaNewswire/Gado/Getty Images

An image of Nobel Laureate Professor Peter Doherty AC.

Nobel Laureate Professor Peter Doherty AC. Image: Image: University of Queensland Archives

Nobel Laureate Professor Peter Doherty AC. Image: Image: University of Queensland Archives

An image of ABC journalist and author Leigh Sales.

ABC journalist and author Leigh Sales. Image: John Donegan/Getty Images

ABC journalist and author Leigh Sales. Image: John Donegan/Getty Images

An image of 2021 ES Meyers Memorial Lecture guest speaker Dr Vijay Roach.

2021 ES Meyers Memorial Lecture guest speaker Dr Vijay Roach. Image: RANZCOG

2021 ES Meyers Memorial Lecture guest speaker Dr Vijay Roach. Image: RANZCOG

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An image of mountaineer and diplomat Sir Edmund Hillary.

Mountaineer and diplomat Sir Edmund Hillary. Image: Thierry PRAT/Sygma via Getty Images

Mountaineer and diplomat Sir Edmund Hillary. Image: Thierry PRAT/Sygma via Getty Images

An image of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. Image: EuropaNewswire/Gado/Getty Images

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. Image: EuropaNewswire/Gado/Getty Images

An image of Nobel Laureate Professor Peter Doherty AC.

Nobel Laureate Professor Peter Doherty AC. Image: Image: University of Queensland Archives

Nobel Laureate Professor Peter Doherty AC. Image: Image: University of Queensland Archives

An image of ABC journalist and author Leigh Sales.

ABC journalist and author Leigh Sales. Image: John Donegan/Getty Images

ABC journalist and author Leigh Sales. Image: John Donegan/Getty Images

An image of 2021 ES Meyers Memorial Lecture guest speaker Dr Vijay Roach.

2021 ES Meyers Memorial Lecture guest speaker Dr Vijay Roach. Image: RANZCOG

2021 ES Meyers Memorial Lecture guest speaker Dr Vijay Roach. Image: RANZCOG

The status of the guest speakers (pictured above) is a reflection of the esteem Professor Meyers was, and is, held in.

He was a leader in postgraduate medical education and undergraduate and postgraduate dental education.

Professor Meyers taught anatomy and surgical dissection to dental students in Brisbane from 1922 – establishing an Anatomy School within the dental hospital in George Street, Brisbane, in 1927 – and was the head of surgical anatomy at the Medical Association (Queensland Branch).

Professor Meyers, alongside other proponents, worked for many years to establish a School of Medicine in Queensland, to provide career opportunities for young men and women, an accomplishment finally achieved on 13 March 1936, following five decades of advocacy.

The UQMS established the ES Meyers Memorial Lecture in July 1957, a year after Professor Meyers’ death, to honour both his contributions to medicine, and his role as one of the founders of the School of Medicine.


Secure your tickets to the lecture

This year’s ES Meyers Memorial Lecture – Mind over Medicine – will be held at 6.30pm on 6 March in the GHD Auditorium, inside the Advanced Engineering Building (49) at UQ’s St Lucia campus.

For more information, contact co-convenors Unni Kumar and Rebekah Gracias on 3365 5261, or the Faculty of Medicine Communications team on 3365 5118 or 0436 368 746.