Shepparton hosts rural medical students: University of Melbourne’s first cohort studying Doctor of Medicine (Rural Pathway) commences next year.
Benalla’s Kiera Howell always knew she wanted a career in the health industry, but it wasn’t until she was working as a registered nurse that she uncovered her passion for rural health.
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“I had considered medicine as an option while I was at school,” the Goulburn Valley Grammar School graduate said.
“It wasn’t until I was working as a registered nurse alongside some fantastic multidisciplinary teams ... that my interest in medicine really came to the surface.”
On January 31 next year, Shepparton’s University of Melbourne campus will welcome the first cohort of new medical students to the lecture theatre, including Ms Howell, who will be trained entirely in the regional setting. It’s also the first time the entire postgraduate course will be offered in a rural setting, with students previously having spent the first year in Melbourne.
“I have always been a rural-focused and community-minded individual,” Ms Howell said.
“I know for certain that living and working in a rural town is the future I see for myself.”
Returning home: Kiera Howell is excited to study medicine close to her home town of Benalla.
Wangaratta-born Naomi Luhan said she also had an “itch” to go back to regional Victoria.
She studied a Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne and decided to follow her passion to become a doctor in the comfort of a rural environment.
“Growing up in Wangaratta showed me what a beautiful small town it is and I knew Shepparton would be the same,” she said.
“More than anything, I wanted to study medicine so that I can give back to the rural people after all the opportunities they have given me.”
It is intended that offering end-to-end training in a rural setting will provide a solution to Australia’s dire shortage of doctors in the regions, by appealing to students such as Ms Howell who prefer rural living.
Going rural: Naomi Luhan wants to study medicine to give back to rural and regional communities.
The university has also removed prerequisites, to encourage a more diverse cohort to apply. The usual entry test for medicine, GAMSAT, is also not required for students applying to the Doctor of Medicine (Rural Pathway).
At the end of the degree, graduates must work for at least three years in a recognised rural area.
But for those who choose the rural pathway, that’s where they’d rather be.
“Staying rural means you are surrounded by your community, and have that support network when you need it,” Ms Luhan said.
The Doctor of Medicine (Rural Pathway) accepts 30 students annually to study at the University of Melbourne’s Shepparton campus.
