Nick Collins Award 2018
The winner of the 2018 Nick Collins Award was Christopher Kocx. In his prize winning entry, Christopher demonstrated the sort of enthusiasm and commitment to General Practice that Nick would have celebrated. Christopher was supported to attend the RACGP GP18 Conference on the Gold Coast where he presented a poster based on research he conducted whilst in receipt of a GP Synergy Research Scholarship.
Thanks to the generous donors to this award and to GP Synergy who also assisted with the costs of Chris’s attendance at the conference.
For those who would like to contribute to future Nick Collins Awards please follow this link to Dr Nick Collins Memorial Fund
Picton Family Medical Centre and Wollondilly Shire Council Prize for Academic Excellence in General Practice
This GP prize generously donated by Dr Anna Pham and her practice with Wollondilly Shire Council was to the top student in Year 5 and was awarded in 2018 to Mario Fernando.
Congratulations Mario and many thanks to our donors!
Kayla Ramires wins RACGP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Award
WSU student Kayla Ramires won a student bursary to attend GP 18 where she spoke about her journey into medicine.
My relationship with Medicine at WSU began in 2009 when I was invited for an interview via the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Alternative Entry Pathway. I had just completed HSC in Nowra and was excited about studying Medicine. Seven months later, I had just finished my end of semester exams and for the first time in my life I had failed. I felt so deflated and was questioning my ability to study medicine. I made the tough decision to walk away from the degree and study something a little closer to home and that allowed me to explore the world.
Five and a half years later, I completed my double degree in Science and Arts and decided I’d give Medicine one last shot - the desire was still there and I thought I was finally ready to do it properly. I am now three years into my second attempt and have just recently been awarded the RACGP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student Award. This enabled me to attend GP18 at the Gold Coast where I engaged with GPs from around the country and also gained inspiration to continue my degree. I also had the privilege to present my journey at the RACGP Faculty Meeting. It was a great opportunity to further cement my passion for general practice as I hope to become a rural generalist back in my local community on the South Coast.
GP Student Network Update
The new executive of the GP student network for 2019 has been elected. Congratulations to those listed below – we look forward to working with you!
Chair: Hayden Chan
Vice chair: Jenny Lam
Treasurer: Sisi Ji
Secretary: Akshaya Thananjeyan
Media/publications: Astha Malik
Blacktown Rep: Justine Binny
Macarthur Rep: Ridah Ahsam