February 26, 2016

New Pre-med course kicks off with two-thirds female cohort

Aspiring paediatricians and neurosurgeons among two-thirds female cohort enrolled in UOW’s new Bachelor of Pre-Medicine, Science and Health.  

When aspiring paediatrician Breanna Sip was told by some in the profession that she would “need a black belt in karate” if she wanted to succeed as a female doctor, it only made her more determined. 

“From a young age I have not let anyone tell me what I can or cannot do. Doubt has only made me more motivated! I have always been a very strong-minded and determined person.” 

The Danebank graduate from Southern Sydney (pictured below left), who received an ATAR of 97.95, will be one of the first students to start UOW’s new Pre-med degree, a three-year course that prepares students for further studies in medicine, dentistry, podiatry or veterinary science. 

In recognition of how competitive it is to get into these programs, the Pre-medicine degree has been designed also to give students a range of career options in the physical and life sciences, allied health or health informatics. 

Course coordinator Associate Professor Danielle Skropeta said she is proud to report female students make up two thirds of the cohort in 2016. 

“We really strived to get a good gender balance and I think the final result is very promising for women in STEM.” 

With eight possible majors in science or health, including biomedical research, exercise science, health informatics, medical radiation physics, molecular medicine and nutrition, the course focuses on helping students build a portfolio of both curricular and extracurricular achievements, develop communication skills and prepare for the Graduate Australian Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT). 

“The 'Foundations for GAMSAT' subject in the first year is unique," Professor Skropeta said.

"It will explore core content for medical school entry including academic literacy, critical thinking skills and an understanding of what it takes to be a successful health practitioner.” 

Breanna said she is particularly excited to study anatomy and physiology. 

“I have heard that we work with cadavers from early on in the course, which is really exciting.” 

The high achiever has always had a love for science and biology in particular. But it wasn’t until she spent a year in Suzhou, China, with her family when she was 12 that Breanna knew she wanted to be a doctor. 

“I spent one day a week volunteering at the local orphanage as a part of a team of five expatriates that washed, changed and fed babies and toddlers (who were often quite sick) in very difficult conditions.” 

“From this experience I witnessed first hand the extreme poverty that exists in the world and it fostered a desire within me to make a difference.” 

Katja de Roo (pictured below right), from Cambewarra in the Shoalhaven region, will be one of the many regionally based students studying Pre-med at UOW this year. 

The graduate of St John the Evangelist Catholic High School in Nowra has long had a fascination with medicine, but it wasn’t until a little boy in her mother's class was diagnosed with a brain tumour that Katja’s path to become a neurosurgeon was set. 

“I decided that I wanted to become a neurosurgeon specialising in brain cancers and tumours, especially since the little boy would always say that one day I was going to fix his brain for him.” 

Around this time, a close family friend also lost her battle with cancer. So when Katja discovered UOW was offering a new Pre-medicine course, she knew it was right for her. However, she was concerned she would not get the ATAR required for entry into the course after her results in the Year 12 half yearly exams and HSC trials didn’t reflect the work she was putting in.   

“During my senior high school years, I suffered from severe anxiety, which heavily impacted my study and meant that I had to work twice as hard to achieve the results I needed.” 

“Imagine my surprise when on the day the results came and I discovered that my efforts had finally paid off in more ways than I could of imagined; I had gotten a 95.05.” 

Katja said she is now looking forward to learning about the intricacies of the human body. 

“I’m also looking forward to learning how to become the person I aspire to be – someone who helps those fighting cancer to regain their lives – in the friendly learning environment that UOW has to offer.” 

And if the road to neurosurgery doesn’t work out, Katja plans to major in medical research so she can  “still help people by researching, developing and testing new ways to improve humanity’s way of life.” 

Breanna and Katja are among the eight Vice-Chancellor’s High Achievers (those who received outstanding marks in the HSC) enrolled in the Pre-medicine degree. 

The course offers the top 12 performing domestic students and the top 12 performing international students a guaranteed interview for UOW’s Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) offered at the Graduate School of Medicine.