On Thursday 26
th June, five prospective Colfeian medics embarked on a fascinating tour around King’s
College London’s School of Medicine at Guy’s Hospital. They were guided by Professor Susan
Standring, Head of the Department of Anatomy and Human Sciences. The tour started in the
Gordon Museum where students were introduced to the King’s medical course and then given an
opportunity to pitch questions regarding all aspects of studying medicine at
university. Students were then allowed to roam through the Gordon Museum viewing its
wide-ranging collection of preserved human body parts in various states of health, and also the
famous set of Lam Qua portraits of Chinese tumour patients from the 19
th Century, as well as some highly detailed anatomical models and peculiar historical
medical instruments.
Following on from this, students were taken around the old university laboratories and then the
dissection room where many more intricately preserved specimens were seen; such as hands, arms,
heads, spinal cords and brains; as well as some cadavers used for anatomy dissection
practicals. From there, the tour moved across the memorial garden to the more modern
laboratories and huge lecture theatres and finished in Guy’s Hospital itself. Along the way
students saw one of the first metal models of DNA ever made after Watson and Crick had proposed the
structure in 1953. At all times, Professor Standring spoke with great enthusiasm and answered
every question posed to her, and we thank her for an extremely interesting and informative tour
which the students thoroughly enjoyed.
