Where are they now – Michael Leyden (SPC 1960-64)

 

The College recently reconnected with Michael Leyden (SPC 1960-64) who is now enjoying retirement following a rich career in medicine. Michael was closely involved during the introduction of bone marrow transplants and pushed for cancer treatment to be made more accessible to those living away from major cancer treatment centres, helping with the establishment of a centre in Ringwood and later in Ballarat.

 

 

Where has life taken me since leaving SPC?
Since leaving SPC at the end of 1964, I commenced Medicine at Melbourne Uni Medical school and joined the St Pat’s Old Boys playing footy in the amateurs playing in Melbourne. There are many happy, strong memories of those days.

Following graduation from uni in 1970, I spent two years internship at St Vincents in Melbourne before going to Canberra, and the  St George hospital and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, pursuing a career as a consultant Physician and specialising in Haematology and Oncology. I was able to be a member of the team doing the third bone marrow transplant in Australia and was invited to join the College of Physicians and College of Pathologists. I then went to a number of overseas hospitals in England and USA, where I met the team responsible for carrying out the first bone marrow transplant (Seattle) and various others in the field of haematology and oncology.

With my wife and two children, I returned to Melbourne as a staff specialist at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and was asked to submit an application to the Victorian Government to facilitate the introduction of bone marrow transplants to Victoria. I also commenced doing laboratory and clinical research on monoclonal antibodies at Melbourne Uni while I was working at the Royal Melbourne Hospital (Monoclonal antibodies are now extremely important and are replacing conventional treatments with more effective therapy with fewer side effects).

When I commenced private practice in 1994, I pushed for cancer treatment to be made more accessible to those living away from major cancer treatment centres and established a cancer treatment centre in Ringwood and this was emulated by both private and public hospitals in the area. Large country hospitals also became involved, including Ballarat.

I constricted my practice when my wife (Prue) developed Motor Neurone Disease. We then had three children and I spent a lot more time at home. I stopped work completely for a year or so before she died at the age of 48. I recommenced work again as soon as I could with the help of Monash Uni and Eastern Health as well as Maroondah Hospital and many colleagues. I remarried and my wife. Dominique, and I have five children and 11 grandchildren between us. I have now completely retired from Medicine. My wife and I enjoyed sailing and snow skiing until recently. We are still avid golfers. I go to watch a grandson rowing now and again and enjoy seeing the colours of SPC who are often competing against Xavier for whom the grandson rows. I would love to hear the SPC war cry again!

Do you have family ties with SPC?
Both my brothers followed me. Des is two years younger than me. Mark is five years younger than me and is a recently retired Obstetrician in Rockhampton. He looked after IVF in far North Queenland.

 

What are your fondest memories of your time at St Patrick’s College?
1.  Playing footy against Ballarat College in the snow on a weekend winter afternoon. I was in the Second XVIII.

2. Debating. I just loved that!  I was as quiet as a mouse most of the time…but give me a debate and I was alive.
3. Helping to set up for the end of year operas. I could not sing for nuts but I loved anything to do with entertainment even if it was just shoving furniture around.
4. Wandering down to the Sacred Heart convent school where my sister was boarding. It was a nice break away from St Pat’s and it was nice to see my sister and share stories. She is a year younger than me.

Which teacher from your time at SPC had the greatest impact on you? Why?

“Charlie” Cummins had the greatest impact on me. He was a man who always looked as if he just loved teaching. He made subjects come alive and I lived for his lessons. When I was teaching medical students, I used his techniques and I was offered an associate professorship through Monash Uni because of that, I am sure. Brother Kelty was another and I regret that he never taught me because he seemed such a good teacher going on what others told me. I used to talk to him a bit and he seemed a clear thinker with a great temperament.

 

If you could pass on one message to the students of today, what would it be?

You are shaping a man. Make sure you do it well because that man will be you.