FROM 2018 the Australian National University (ANU) will address the shortage of health professionals in rural and indigenous communities by opening a new pathway for rural and indigenous students to become doctors and health professionals.
Next year ANU Medical School will offer a new Bachelor of Health Science program, with 15 designated places for rural and indigenous students.
ANU Medical School associate dean David Kramer says the degree aims to produce graduates who want a career in health, health research or health professional education.
“As Australia’s national university, we want to ensure we have a strong representation of graduates from all parts of Australia, including rural areas and Indigenous communities,” Dr Kramer says.
“Our new pathway will make it possible for talented rural and indigenous students to consider medicine as a career through the ANU Doctor of Medicine and Surgery.”
The degree will draw from ANU strengths in medical education, biomedical science, population health, psychology, social sciences and public policy to prepare graduates for careers in medicine, allied health and health-related professions.
ANU Medical School, through its Rural Clinical School, has been training students in regional NSW for the past 11 years.
The rurally trained students have achieved significant academic success, a number are returning to work rurally.
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