Set on becoming a doctor from the age of 13, Sam Schembri joined the Rural Clinical School in 2025 for one year, as part of the Rural Zone experience offered at the University of Melbourne.

Originally from Kilmore, Sam studied a Bachelor of Biomedical Science at Monash University, before joining the University of Melbourne’s Doctor of Medicine, taking one more step closer to his dream of becoming a doctor.

Beginning his studies in Parkville, he made the move to Shepparton in his second year to experience rural medicine.

“I’ve started learning clinical skills this year, and I have to say my favourite part so far has been seeing patients. I was a bit nervous to be transferring to Shepparton for a year, but I’ve had the opportunity to see wide scope of patients. It’s provided me with a breadth of experience I may not have been able to see in a metro hospital and has begun to shape me as a doctor.

I think there’s a misconception with medical students where it can feel like we can’t have an impact on patient care and their health journey, but I think being able to talk with patients, listen to their struggles and give companionship is extremely valuable and also a humbling experience for a student like me.”

Sam notes that “The environment here (in Shepparton) is supportive and having a smaller cohort, it feels like a really encouraging group of people with great camaraderie, that I can rely on.”

Practicing rurally is an option Sam is keeping in mind for his future, aiming to foster good doctor patient relationships and the effects that can have on a rural community.

Something Sam has heard through his lecturers and stays with him is, “your interaction with a patient timewise may be a very small amount of time, but for them, it can be their entire perspective of the medical system.”