The support of the Australian Rotary Health Scholarship will allow me to engage with more than just my clinical studies and aid in fostering a more well-rounded future rural clinician. I believe that as a medical professional working in the future resource limited areas like rural Australia, one requires a critical understanding of the limitations in delivering care but most importantly the skills and aspiration to improve the systems to address these barriers of health care delivery which I believe my engagement with research can in part teach me in doing. I have been involved in several research projects focusing on health systems barriers and evidence-based medicine which I would like to continue pursuing throughout my rural year. I have also led several advocacy campaigns such as for the professional development of medical students and sexual and reproductive rights in Canberra through my co-chair position as part of the Global Health Society. Health and rural health advocacy are a critical skill needed for all rural clinicians as rural health is often overlooked in most strategic plans and policies and often just a commitment to providing one-to-one care is not enough to make a difference to the scope and provision of services in the area. As a long-term medical student, I hope to not only use my lived experience of the system’s shortcomings in my local area but also continue to use my experiences in health advocacy in broader areas of health such as sexual and reproductive health and migration and asylum seeker health to support advocacy collectives and communities in my area. The Rotary’s scholarship will not only offer financial aid but will allow me to connect to and learn from Rotarians in my community who dedicate their time and expertise to make a difference.

Throughout my undergraduate and postgraduate study, I have been involved in numerous volunteering activities, especially through the Australian Red Cross, which have not only allowed easier integration into my community but has allowed me to gain a sense of social responsibility to my community. In my rural week placement, I had the privilege of getting to know the disability social workers at Tulgeen in Bega and the some of the artists from the ‘Art in the Garage’ initiative. I also had the experience to witness how important social work is in rural towns and how the vision to keep individuals doing what they love doing requires a dedicated team of individuals who are willing to give their endless time for their patrons. As a medical student, I realised that in rural and regional towns, we are very lucky if we have social services that can provide individuals an advent to experience a good quality of life and it inspired me to volunteer for some of their activities next year. This scholarship would help me to continue volunteering in my regional community through services like at Tulgeen, Australian Red Cross, and the Rotary Club and engage as an active member of the Bega community next year.

This year has been incredibly exciting from both academic and personal perspectives. It began in Bega with Orientation Week, where I had the chance to meet and interact with academic coordinators and clinical supervisors in both professional and casual settings. This week also highlighted the extensive clinical experiences available beyond our curriculum. Throughout my rotations, I encountered a range of dedicated doctors eager to teach and share their knowledge of medicine. Additionally, Orientation Week marked the beginning of an unexpected but strong friendship with my peers in Bega, which has only grown over time.

My first rotation was in General Practice at Pambula Medical Centre. Initially, I had modest expectations about my responsibilities as a medical student in the practice, but I was pleasantly surprised by the learning opportunities and guidance provided by the doctors. I participated in parallel consultations, engaged in various procedures such as vaccinations, suturing, and cryotherapy, and learned how to document patient records. Spending 12 weeks at Pambula also exposed me to the diverse roles rural GPs undertake, including performing nerve blocks at the hospital and following up with patients at nursing homes. This experience deepened my appreciation for the breadth of services GPs provide in rural areas and helped me build confidence in complex clinical interactions and community engagement.

My favorite rotation so far has been in General Surgery. On my first day, I scrubbed into multiple surgeries and assisted the surgeon by holding instruments. While initially daunting due to the strict rules about attire and instrument handling, I gained confidence by the end of the rotation, thanks to the support from the surgical team and scrub nurses. This rotation allowed me to practice various procedural skills, including suturing a lacerated tongue on an 11-year-old, which sparked my interest in procedural work

Throughout the year, I also enjoyed participating in community events and exploring the stunning coastal areas around Bega. Some highlights include the Merimbula Eats Festival, Bega Cup, stand-up paddleboarding at Mitchy’s Jetty, Pambula trivia nights, hiking from Kianiny Bay to Boulder Bay, camping at Mimosa Heads with friends, participating in the Emergency Services exercise with regional teams, experiencing a car bogged at Nethercote Falls, observing retrievals at Eurobodalla Hospital, and engaging in the student-led Boots to Scrubs event at Bega High School to inspire students about medicine. These experiences have helped me integrate into the community and significantly impacted my interactions with patients, enhancing rapport-building skills. The Rotary Scholarship has been instrumental in enabling me to enjoy these enriching experiences.