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.
Are you a WAMSS member or alumnus? Tell us your story by filling out this form!
Nathan's journey started with a rush! 14 days before the start of the semester while relaxing in the Texas sun, his offer letter for UWA came in...
From: Sunshine Coast, QLD
Previous Degree: Bachelor of Biomedical Science, University of Sunshine Coast
Expected year of graduation: 2023
Interested in: Not too sure yet but rural generalist is looking quite good
What did you study before medicine?
I took the usual route of study and did a Bachelor of Biomedical Science at the University of the Sunshine Coast QLD, where I’m originally from and where I am currently stranded in lock down.
Graduating mid-year 2017 I’ve spent the last roughly 2 years living and working in the United States for a medical scribe company, a niche industry yet to take off here in Australia.
I was working as a national implementation trainer, travelling around the country to hospitals where the company had newly landed contracts to assist in training new local medical scribes, for the most part in the emergency department.
It was an awesome experience! I actually got a rather late offer from UWA (2.5 weeks prior to pre-sem) and packed up my life and flew straight to Perth from Dallas TX, 5 days before our first class.
Do you have a secret hunch about how you will die?
via shark attack.
What do you do when you're not studying?
Try to stay active. Love surfing, and more so just adventuring to find a nice wave, which I haven’t been able to figure out just yet in the Perth area...but on RCS for MD3 down in Albany have enjoyed the uncrowded beaches!
Also hoping to play rugby again next year when I’m back in Perth for UWA!
Journey to Medicine is an initiative by WAMSS to share medical students' personal stories about their journey into medicine, as well as their colourful lives outside of medicine.
For many of us, the journey to studying medicine isn't linear. The goal is to inspire and empower students who are thinking about pursuing a career in medicine.
Read more of our other stories:
This week we have Gaby, who’s story shows us that you can still maintain a life outside of medicine, adventuring, mountaineering, and being that ‘crazy horse girl’…
Sim has been travelling in parallel with the medical field: in bioengineering, cancer genetics, and heart regeneration research. Even after such diverse opportunities, she decided that it was time to revisit her interest in medicine.
Nathan’s journey started with a rush! 14 days before the start of the semester while relaxing in the Texas sun, his offer letter for UWA came in…
This week we have Adian Izwan, who has a love of dogs and big cats, which has somehow taken him to South Africa as part of his previous studies…
Shondell’s story is truly an inspirational one, coming from the northern beaches of Exmouth, to having her medical degree interrupted by a life-changing surgery.
With a previous life of working 40 hours as a software engineer not enough to satisfy his curiosity, Sam made the huge leap of quitting his job and embarking on his journey to medicine.
Caitlin’s experiences from the labs of Barry Marshall to the depths of the swimming pool have equipped her with a toolbox of skills to adapt and thrive in different medical environments.
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.
Alexander’s journey is truly a windy one: starting off in a Bachelor of Arts before finding his passion (for now?) in pathology and microbiology. Danke schön for sharing!
For our first ever feature, we have Ella Forkin sharing her story about moving from Kalgoorlie to being actively involved in college, and now spending her time adventuring in Kununurra.