Charles Sturt University (CSU) has partnered with Western Sydney University to deliver a Doctor of Medicine course together as part of CSU’s School of Rural Medicine.
The Joint Program in Medicine is a five-year undergraduate degree that will qualify students to be a medical intern/doctor in Australia and New Zealand. The first cohort of students have commenced their practical studies at Bathurst Hospital which will see the students experience all aspects of a working hospital and medical practice over the next three years.
Member for Bathurst Paul Toole joined Dr Khalid Al-Zubaidi and Campus Manager Jo Halloran in welcoming four new medical students to Bathurst Hospital. The third year Charles Sturt University students will be the first cohort to complete a three-year placement in Bathurst Hospital experiencing all branches of the medical field from emergency to ICU and GP.
“Being a doctor is all about giving back and helping your community,” Mr Toole said.
“It is programs like CSU’s School of Rural Medicine that is training our next generation of regional doctors, nurses and health staff that we will all need at some point in our lifetime.
“It is great to see two local Bathurstians amongst the doctors to be and I wish them all the best in their studies.”
Head of Campus Dr Al-Zubaidi said the first cohort of students have hit the ground running on their practical training.
“This program immerses students into a broad range of hospital and community-based services so they may graduate with real life experience,” said
“Students explore diverse rural clinical settings and in their third, fourth- and fifth-years complete placements in surgery, medicine, critical care, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, mental health, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, and medicine in context rotations.”
The four, third year students will be completing these rotations at Bathurst Hospital and in the local community over the next three years.
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