Doctor for a day; regional high schoolers diagnose potential careers
Year 10 students from Rockhampton, Gladstone, Emerald, and Bundaberg were treated to a day in the life of a doctor recently, with a run of immersive medical events across the Central Queensland and Wide Bay regions.
Hosted by CQUniversity on behalf of the Regional Medical Pathway (RMP), 156 young and aspiring medical practitioners selected from across 30 schools took part in hands-on clinical workshops including suturing, blood typing, patient simulations, and vital signs assessment.
CQUniversity Associate Professor Andrew Fenning said that engaging with students in Year 10 was a critical point to interact and provide advice on selecting subjects for their senior years to be successful in applying for the provisional medical pathway.
“To gain entry into the Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine), there are a number of key selection criteria to meet in terms of being prepared for the UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test) and interview selection process, and also looking at the importance of subject selection to ensure they’re meeting the right criteria and on track to obtaining a really strong ATAR,” Assoc Prof Fenning said.
“So not only is it a great opportunity to provide students with this important information, but to also provide hands-on activities that allow them to have fun and experience what it’s like to be a clinician, and interact with students who are currently in the RMP at various stages of their medical degree.”
Assoc Prof Fenning said research has shown that training students in the regions has translated to a significant conversion of students continuing to stay and work in the regions – and with regional Queensland facing critical health care shortages, the RMP is poised to provide a holistic pathway that closes the gap between the demand and supply of much-needed health care professionals.
“With the nature of the RMP being an end-to-end medical program wholly based in the Central Queensland and Wide Bay areas, students are able to not only form those critical networks in the region through their placements and internships, but also provides a really tangible experience of what regional practice is,” Assoc Prof Fenning said.
“So, starting with immersive programs like this sets students up really well for getting the best chance at gaining entry.”
The Regional Medical Pathway is a partnership between CQUniversity, The University of Queensland, Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service, and Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service.
Learn more about getting started on your pathway to medicine with CQUniversity by visiting the course information page.
