Death Of Former Medical Dean

Media advisory
8 September 2008

Death Of Former Medical Dean

Professor David Cole, the second Dean of The University of Auckland's School of Medicine, died early today. He was Dean from 1974 to 1989.

An eminent cardio-thoracic surgeon based at Greenlane Hospital he was among the first appointed to the teaching staff of the new school, established in 1968. Over the next few years took up the role of Associate Dean of Graduate Studies before being named as Deputy Dean and later succeeding Professor Cecil Lewis, the Foundation Dean.

"In the 15 years David Cole headed the medical school, he took it from a fledgling medical training establishment to something much closer to the multi-disciplinary teaching and research-based Faculty we know today," said the Acting Dean of the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Professor Ian Reid.

"This was very much the maturation period for medical training in Auckland, and the Faculty, University and medical community in Auckland will long be in David Cole's debt. He was instrumental in developing the research core and culture that underpin today's Faculty, and played a major role in galvanising support for teaching and research activities from the wider community.

"Our sympathy is with his family and his many colleagues and friends inside and outside the medical fraternity."

ENDS

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