Getting to the heart of it: Cardiologist Dr Varnava’s Founders Day Lecture

Varnava, who attended City in the 70s and 80s, gave a fascinating insight into the field of cardiology and urged girls that though their goals may change over time, grit, determination, and belief in their self-worth would see them through. Only after receiving a clean sweep of rejections from all five medical schools she applied to, Varnava recalled, did she try for Oxford, to the consternation of her Chemistry teacher who vowed to eat his hat if she got in (on succeeding, apparently, she didn’t hold him to this promise). Like our Colton Memorial lecture a few weeks ago, another inspiring story of great success sitting alongside, rather than despite, early failures.