Rural Medicine Scholarship Program

Since commencing my medical student journey, I have been fortunate to engage in multi-day rural experiences in Bathurst through Western Sydney University’s Rural Program. I have had the opportunity to volunteer at different community events such as community health checks at the Royal Bathurst Show and Bathurst 500. Through these community engagements, I was able to immerse myself in the local community. I also participated in the WSU Rural Health Club’s School Outreach Trip in 2022, whereby we demonstrated medical and allied health skills to high school students in Bathurst to provide an insight into health career options. I really enjoyed this experience as it gave me an insight into the community-oriented mindset of the staff and students at Bathurst Clinical School.

My name is Gahena Ram, I will be a fourth-year medical student in 2024 at Bathurst Rural Clinical School, and I would love the opportunity to receive the Australian Rotary Health Rural Clinical Health Scholarship. I am from Maitland but have been living in Campbelltown for the past three years because of my studies. I chose to come to Bathurst as I do feel like I belong with rural/regional communities much more due to the way I grew up and am looking forward to joining a regional setting once more.

As a future doctor, I believe community involvement and extracurricular interests are a vital part of becoming a holistic and well-rounded medical professional, to be able to fully understand the community that one serves

The Australian Rotary Health Rural Health Scholarship would greatly support myself as I transition my studies into the rural location. I have always been interested in studying in a rural area and broadening my scope for further work life potentially in a rural location. This scholarship would assist my transition to Bathurst and moving away from home for the first time would be a lot smoother until I can start supporting myself financially while being able to turn my focus to getting as much experience in the hospital and organising my study and assessments. I also hope to spend this time settling into the new environment and with this, I hope to put a good amount of time into my rural based MD research program which is looking at the comparison between screening and management of atrial fibrillation between urban and rural areas.

It was only when I moved from my hometown on the Mid North Coast to Canberra for my university studies that I truly realised and appreciated the incredible sense of community that rural places hold that just can’t be replicated in a city environment. Growing up, I was always eager to engage in community events, whether it be to raise funds for local charities or show off the town in local events. That is one of the reasons I am so excited and grateful to be able to move to the Bega Valley next year to live, work and connect with the local community. For me, the Australian Rotary Health Rural Health Scholarship would enable me to do that in several ways.

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.

During my year studying at the ANU Rural Clinical School in Cowra, my goal is to succeed with my studies, and make the most of the opportunity I am being given in being able to study there. Beyond just learning and applying that knowledge with skills, I also aim to learn more about Cowra, both from a rural healthcare perspective, and also through community involvement that will be available to me there.

With this scholarship, I hope to aid my studies financially, with additional textbooks and online resources that will extend my knowledge and understanding. I would also aim for at least some of these resources and additional learning to be specific to a future career I may want rurally.

The Australian Rotary Health Rural Health Scholarship would provide substantial support for my studies at the Rural Clinical School. I have felt significant financial pressure being a student from affording the ever-increasing costs of living that includes, but are not limited to, groceries, rent, utilities and the soaring fuel prices solely on Youth Allowance.  While I was working, it was even harder to maintain other aspects of life including socialising, exercising and resting. I felt that I was under immense mental strain and was on the verge of burn out and had to quit work.

Firstly, the financial assistance which is generously provided by the Australian Rotary Health team will greatly enable me to focus on my studies and improve my skills effectively as a healthcare member by significantly reducing my financial stress. Unfortunately, because of my commitment to the Rural Clinical School I will no longer be employed by my current employer of 4 years, losing my main source of income. Additionally, recent complex family issues and familial financial stress means that I will not have financial support from close family and will therefore rely on government payments