Meet Dr Victor de Lima, Heriot-Watt Honorary Graduate (2023) and the University’s General Practitioner on our Edinburgh campus for over 40 years.
Born in Kenya, Victor completed his schooling there, going on to teach in Kisumu, western Kenya, for a couple of years, to help fund his medical studies at the University of Edinburgh. He graduated in 1975. He then undertook a series of medical jobs preparing for a vocation in General Practice and in 1979 was offered a partnership at the Currie Medical Practice which was contracted to provide GP services to Heriot-Watt’s Riccarton Campus.
Describe your experience at Heriot-Watt in just three words.
Challenging, fulfilling, rewarding!
What has been the most rewarding part of your role?
Helping students address their medical issues – physical, psychological, and social – in a manner that enabled them to achieve their full academic potential. They are often at a highly formative stage of transition in their lives and it is truly rewarding to help facilitate, at their request, that transition to realise the best of their diverse abilities.
What have been the greatest challenges?
The extent and pace of change over my 42 years as University Physician means I have seen medicine undergo major changes: new diseases, diagnosis and treatments; in outlook, education and ethics; and in the incorporation of information technology into everyday work within the NHS. Simultaneously, Heriot-Watt grew from a new single campus at Riccarton to a global institution with five campuses, with major developments in structure, in educational programmes and in research. Keeping abreast of change in both fields was challenging and thrilling!
What are you most proud of achieving in your role?
Heading a team that established what I consider an exemplary University Health Service with a range of provision, including full GP primary care for students and occupational healthcare for staff. I was privileged to have the opportunity to help set up the dental, physiotherapy, and student counselling services on campus, and to initiate the building of a purpose-built health centre. This provided care for University students and staff and for local residents, thus helping to integrate the University into the local community.
Fondest memory as a campus GP?
This is very difficult to answer – there are so many!
Fun times, like Student Union Burns suppers, International Student weeks, Brewing Society festivals; and joyful times, such as delivering a refugee student of her first child (in the days when GPs delivered babies in the obstetric unit), getting hugged by students on graduation day, receiving the Spirit of Heriot-Watt Award nomination, and the “Oscar” from the Student Union, followed by my Honorary Doctorate this year. These were the high points. But there has also been pathos, in dealing with student hardship and death: not ‘fond’ memories, but deeply poignant and memorable ones.
Principal and Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard A Williams with Dr de Lima outside the campus Health Centre
The position opened many interesting doors, leading to many unusual experiences.”
Any surprising experiences as Heriot-Watt’s GP?
The position opened many interesting doors, leading to many unusual experiences. For example, I trained in diving medicine and was privileged to be a medical advisor to the Royal Geographical Society’s “Shoals of Capricorn” multi-university project on the Mascarene ridge of the Indian Ocean, between 1998 and 2003. This involved extended liaison/teaching visits to Mauritius and the Seychelles. It was a greatly enjoyable assignment, and someone had to do it!
Being a GP at Heriot-Watt, with its high proportion of overseas students, helped prepare me for a three-month sabbatical at a rural hospital in Uganda, at a time when it had one of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS in the world – a hugely educational and enriching experience for me.
How have things changed at Heriot-Watt during your time here?
The innovative and developing education and research programmes at the University have brought changes in student and staff populations in terms of diversity in all respects. The development of the physical estate has been significant too, with Oriam, the Lyell Centre, the National Robotarium and GRID. There has been remarkable growth in the cultural richness of a what is now a global institution.
Where is your favourite part of the campus?
The Riccarton campus, with its natural woodland and gardens, is a lovely working environment. I particularly enjoy wandering along the Tree Trail, exploring the sunken garden and feeding the birdlife at the loch – many years ago, I’d do that at weekends with my son (then a toddler), and now my wife and I do it with our two year-old grandson Leo!
What do you enjoy the most about being part of the Heriot-Watt community?
The community is a rich diversity of people – in age, ethnicity, gender, and with spiritual, educational, cultural and sporting abilities that are celebrated in the University’s values. To me, emanating from my domicile in Africa, it is typified by “Ubuntu” philosophy – I enjoy being part of that family.
What is the best piece of advice you have received?
Many years ago, I was advised by a mentor to look into myself and decide whether I was a divergent or a convergent thinker, and therefore whether I would be happier as a generalist or a specialist physician. As time went on, I realised that one need not pigeon-hole oneself in this way, and that life’s serendipity provides many opportunities to combine both forms of thinking which can then enable your creativity to meet challenges while retaining focus. This is what I have tried to do in my personal and professional life.
