What made you apply for the Doctor of Medicine (Rural Pathway) program?

I grew up surrounded by family in all different areas of healthcare so my upbringing inspired me to pursue a career in rural health (especially having seen my parents work in rural mental health, and the impact they had in those areas sometimes being the only access to services the towns had).

I was really excited when I got accepted into the course because the purpose behind the rural pathway in helping undeserved communities is something I'm passionate about.

Giving back to community is so important to me especially because when my family first migrated from Zimbabwe they moved out of the city and moved to a smaller town Bendigo (which has grown a lot now but smaller back then). During that time we saw the generosity of people who not only helped us get settled but came around and supported us in ways that I think are unique to small towns.

What have been the highlights of the course so far?

• The relationships that I have formed with my cohort
• My healing Thursday morning drives to Cobram for GP placement; watching the sunrise, driving past the orchards and meeting lovely patients who teach me all about their homegrown tomatoes
• The experiences/ opportunities we have had, e.g. attending conference and meeting so many inspiring people
• Support from our MD1 tutors - they are the best and go beyond to help us
• Free food and events from Outlook & the Rural Clinical School

What advice would you give to other students considering applying for the course?

It's definitely a good experience and helps you look at medicine from a unique perspective. If it's something you are interested in, look for opportunities to engage with a rural or regional healthcare service and see if you like it.

Finally, reach out to people and have conversations about the Rural Pathway program.