There's a story behind every medical student. Read about some of the inspiring journeys others have made from applicant to medical student to future physician.
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Brendan is a mature-aged student who has really gone through the journey of academia, from completing a science degree, to a PhD, then becoming a teacher, and now finally graduating as a doctor! Learn more about his story and why he wants to pursue a career in Paediatric endocrinology in his feature.
From: Perth, WA
Previous Degree: PhD in Chemistry
Expected year of graduation: 2022
Interested in: Paediatric endocrinology
What did you study before medicine?
I finished school in the mid-90s and was keen on pursuing Medicine at university, but it did not happen for me then, so I studied a Science degree instead.
Following my Science degree, I completed Honours in Chemical Physics, a PhD in Chemistry, and a Graduate Diploma in Education. I was employed as a Chemistry technician at UWA and then, in 2008, started high school Science teaching work. While teaching, I was also studying at Bible college part time and doing a lot of volunteering in my church. During that time, I met my future wife who was working as a Science teacher in the same school.
At the end of 2008, I formally resigned my position at UWA and started my teaching career. Early in 2010 I got married and our daughter was born at the end of 2011.
After changing schools in 2016, I began thinking about my career. Around that time, I turned 40 and after some consideration, I decided that I was still passionate about pursuing a career in Medicine. With my wife's support, I began working towards the goal of gaining entry to the course.
I hadn’t studied for a long time but began the arduous task of preparing for GAMSAT and I sat it in September 2017 and March 2018. I got the exciting email late in 2018 that I’d got a place at UWA. I told my superiors at the school where I was teaching within a few hours of getting the email and put in my formal resignation letter the next day.