Emma makes history as Leicester Medical School marks 50-year anniversary
Emma crosses the De Montfort Hall stage to become the Medical School's 7,612th doctor.
Emma Zugic made University of Leicester history this week as she became the final student to graduate from the Medical School in its 50th year.
Founded in 1975, the Medical School is celebrating its first half century in 2025.
Over the 50 years, more than 7,000 doctors have graduated from the School, with Emma being the 7,612th, to be precise.
Watching her graduate was a fellow history maker – Professor Sir Nilesh Samani – who was in the School’s first intake of students, in 1975. After graduating, Professor Samani forged an impressive career here in the city, and is today both a Professor of Cardiology at the University, and an Honorary Consultant Cardiologist at the Cardiac Centre, Glenfield Hospital.
Emma Zugic and Professor Sir Nilesh Samani.
Speaking after her graduation ceremony, which took place at De Montfort Hall on Thursday 17 July, Emma said: “It was a nice feeling to know so many doctors have qualified before me and gone on to successful careers, and that I am the last to graduate in the first 50 years.”
The 27-year-old from Wressle, East Riding of Yorkshire, joined the Medical School in 2020, after rejecting another offer from Sheffield.
“When I went for my interview at Leicester, I got a really good vibe,” said Emma. “It just appealed to me, seemed a nice place to live and study and I was proved right.”
She added: “The Medical School is so good – I know quite a lot of people from other medical schools and I don’t think they get the same support and teaching that we got. The way the course is set up is really good. Having the first two years of predominantly theoretical learning, followed by three years of placements and practical training is really valuable. I’ve spent much of the last three years in hospitals, and it’s sharpened my clinical skills, such as taking bloods and so on. For people at other medical schools, I don’t think they always feel as confident as those from Leicester.”
Looking back at her first placement, in a GP surgery, Emma can appreciate the journey she’s been on.
“I went in with so much theoretical knowledge, but then you’re faced with having to put things into practice for the first time,” she said.
“Having a patient telling me about all the things that are going on, and I’m taking the information in and trying not to panic and feel like I’m useless and shouldn’t be there – that takes some time to get over.
“But, it clicked into place in the fourth year, when I spent time in different specialities, like paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology. I learned a lot and gained that confidence in my ability. By the fifth year we were shadowing junior doctors in surgery and medicine and learning exactly how to be a doctor. And it was nice to feel you were nearly on a par with them, as they were just a year ahead of us.”
As her time at Leicester comes to an end, Emma’s now preparing to embark on her first role as a qualified doctor in Edinburgh.
“I am a little scared and nervous, but do feel I have the ability and it’s just a case of having that confidence that I will be a good doctor,” she said.
Whatever the future holds, Emma will always be known as the first doctor in her family.
She said: “My dad and mum will not stop telling anyone who will listen that I’m a doctor!”
Seeing Emma graduate brought the memories back for Professor Samani.
“I have always loved graduations,” he said. “As Head of Department I have attended many ceremonies and each reminds me of my own. This year’s is particularly poignant because it’s such a landmark year.”
Looking back to his first year in Leicester, in 1975, Professor Samani said: “The first cohort was very special. There were only 50 of us and the city, the university and the hospitals were so enthusiastic and welcoming.
“The hospitals had never had the opportunity to teach medical students, and all of a sudden there we were. It was a really exciting time.”
Professor Samani added: “I’ve been extremely proud of the way the Medical School has developed. We can really hold our head high in the way we have developed as a centre of excellence, for both teaching and for research.
“We are internationally known for many areas of research now, not least my own area of cardiovascular medicine. Research undertaken in Leicester has impacted on care and treatment globally. When I travel abroad and meet colleagues, you realise that Leicester is certainly on the map internationally and it’s great to be recognised in that way. Although, I must say, my team Leicester City winning the Premier League in 2016 also helped in terms of people knowing where we were, and to say Leicester properly!”
Professor Samani was Head of the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences at the University between 2003 and 2016. He was also Director of the Leicester National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Unit in Cardiovascular Disease between 2009 and 2016. Between 2016-2023, he also served in the prestigious role of Medical Director of the British Heart Foundation.
One of his fondest memories was when the Leicester community rallied to raise funds for the University of Leicester British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Research Centre, which opened at Glenfield Hospital in 2014.
Professor Samani said: “They raised several millions of pounds to go towards the cost of the building. It was quite incredible, really, and for me, sums up the spirit of Leicester.”