How UCLan's first cohort of medical graduates used technology to take an historic pledge

The Declaration of Geneva, a successor to the 2,500-year-old Hippocratic Oath, was adopted by the World Medical Association (WMA) at its second General Assembly in 1948.

It outlines the professional duties of physicians and affirms the ethical principles of the global medical profession.

Traditionally the oath is recited in public as part of the university graduation ceremonies.

For many medical schools, the ongoing Covid-19 crisis means it has not been possible for new doctors to make the declaration.

However, at UCLan the School of Medicine decided to use video technology so 28 international graduates were able to recite the pledge.

Prof Cathy Jackson, head of the School of Medicine, said: “The taking of the oath provides a realisation to our medical graduates that they are entering a noble and trusted profession which places patients at the centre of their working lives.

“Reciting the oath in public can have a profound effect and although our summer graduation ceremonies have been deferred until December we wanted to highlight the achievements of our first cohort of doctors now, 22 of which are going to be working on the front line in the north west for local hospitals and clinics.”