Access

Right, I'll be quick on this one--AMS Figures need some work

Too many people complain too often about not receiving their rights. They are entitled to this, they say, and that, and that, and... "I deserve better pay, better treatment, better packages, etc." If you think I'm criticising certain ungrateful attitudes and behaviours in people, you're spot on correct.

You see, if we imagine the situation objectively, put it out on the table, and turn our eyes to look from a different angle, it's not hard to appreciate the comforts that are already there in life. In the mornings I wake up thanking my Father who has given me the opportunity to reside overseas as I pursue university education. This is beyond the reach of my parents' wallet, yet God proves to supply all my needs according to His riches in glory. I got a million-ringgit scholarship with no bond. I'm given a 3-way access - to a first-world country, to finances, and to Medicine, a field people are dying to get into. It's of course easy to take things for granted - but I really wish I say my word of utter thanks each and every day that I live.

Scientist. That's one of the words I wrote under the heading "Occupation/Ambition" when I was 9 to 12 years old. And 10 years on, I'm now in a research lab that drives discoveries on the human nervous system. Some might take the pessimistic stance and say that research is full of boredom - you know, waiting for incubations, dead cells, failed experiments, disproved hypotheses, negative findings - but in this I beg to differ. As much as I hate these challenges, I take pleasure when they happen because it's telling me a road not to take. Truth is a pinnacle. That's why it's so difficult. It takes ages to establish one. In the mean time, why don't we lab people talk a little bit more about family, vision in life, and views on God?

Can't thank Him enough for this level of access I'm given.

In the not-so-distant future

3 years down, 3 to go.

It's actually hard to believe that I'll graduate in Medicine, Surgery and Medical Science in 3 years' time. Whenever people ask me, "Which year are you in?", the next question is always "So how long is the course?" And they get a shock when I tell them that it's six years. Some think that the 6th year is the internship year where you're already working as a fresh graduate - but no, that's the 7th year.

Even though 3 years is equal to the full length of a university degree (like Commerce, Science, Arts, etc) - meaning it's still a long way before me - I tend to see it as something that I've been through. Three years down, 3 to go. I've been in uni for 3 years, so another 3 years wouldn't hurt as much, because I've lived through it. But deep down I know it's going to be very different - moving to a northern suburb called Epping, having a 9-5 schedule Mondays to Fridays, talking with patients to learn both the characteristics of the disease and of the individual suffering from it, etc. I might move again to another suburb in 5th and 6th year, depending on placements. But that will come in its own time.

I know for sure that it will be a time of exciting adventure. A wild dream of a child who grew up in Kota Kinabalu, was educated in a regular daily boy's high school, played role-playing games like Diablo and Ragnarok Online... is unfolding into reality.

God, this is awesome.

Picture credit: teddymill.co.uk

iNFO

More on studying medicine in Melbourne

The 6-year undergraduate, 'PBL model' double-degree MBBS/BMedSc took in their first students in 1999. Semesters 1-5 are uni-based, focussing on pre-clinical education. Sem 6-7 is the research year. Sem 8-12 are clinical placements in hospitals (divided into 15 different rotations). Graduates may skip Sem 1, 6 and 7, making it a 4.5-year degree. The last intake for undergraduates was in 2008, for graduates in 2009.

The course prior to this (also 6 years, MBBS) was probably 'traditional', with pre-clinicals that emphasise lectures, not tutorials, and more of hard biomedical knowledge than of soft clinical skills. I only know nerdy stuff about the course: past papers are available online, and top scorers get their names inscribed on a wooden hall of fame on level 2 of the medical building.

The new 4-year graduate entry, Melbourne-model MD will commence in 2011, graduating their first batch in 2014. The 1-year pre-clinical phase seems like a heavier version of the PBL model (5 semesters condensed into 2) - 12 hours of lectures every week, 18 weeks per semester. Examination is at the end of the year.

Questions/corrections are welcome.

Also: Interesting article on the history of medical education in The University of Melbourne.