Rural students recognised at annual award ceremony
Five Monash medical students dedicated to rural health and Indigenous health have been recognised at the annual Medicine Awards held on Monday 11 December 2023. The six awards sponsored by Monash Rural Health were presented by the Head of School, Professor Shane Bullock and recognised the students’ academic, leadership and advocacy achievements.
Edmund Proper received a total of three awards at the event, including the Monash Rural Health Graduate Prize, awarded to a medical student who completed most of their placements rurally and obtained the highest aggregate marks. Edward was also the inaugural recipient of the Dr Tim McArdle Graduate Prize, acknowledging his commitment to Gippsland during his studies, as well as his academic success. This prize was awarded in memory of Dr Tim McArdle, a Monash alumnus and Gippsland-based doctor committed to serving his local community and sponsored by the McArdle family.
Edmund was inspired to study medicine by his grandfather John Yeatman, a general physician at Royal Melbourne Hospital.
“He described his work in a manner which made it feel like such an honourable and enjoyable profession, and highlighted the challenge of blending science and critical thinking with social skills and communication.”
Edmund enjoyed his time in Gippsland, where he completed placements in Sale and Lakes Entrance. Highlights for him included meeting his girlfriend, joining the Maffra Football Netball Club and exploring the high country and 90 Mile Beach.
“I found the placement experience fantastic, and in particular, really enjoyed my time in the emergency department in 3rd year, my GP placement in Lakes Entrance and paediatrics at Sale Hospital. These placements reinforced in me the importance of communication skills and clear-thinking, and I was astonished at the breadth of knowledge of my supervisors.”
Edmund will begin his medical career with an internship at Monash Health, which includes a rotation to Wonthaggi Hospital’s emergency department.
The Monash Rural Health (Churchill) Graduate Prize was awarded to Rachel Cole, recognising her attaining the highest marks in the Monash Rural Health graduate program.
Rachel initially completed a Bachelor of Physiotherapy at Monash University and subsequently worked as a physiotherapist for five years, specialising in paediatrics.
“I was fortunate to work at many amazing hospitals across Melbourne and London, and was inspired to pursue a career in medicine by the many exceptional paediatricians and trainees I worked with.”
Rachel enjoyed studying in Churchill during the first year of her medical degree and made lifelong friends during this time. Next year, she is excited to be commencing as an intern at Barwon Health in Geelong.
“In the future, I aspire to a career as a rural paediatrician. The prospect of completing paediatric training regionally and rurally through the extended rural stream is incredibly exciting!”
The Extended Rural Cohort Graduate Prize was awarded to Angela Frentiu for being the medical student within the Extended Rural Cohort to receive the highest marks.
Angela was inspired to apply for the Extended Rural Cohort after hearing a careers counsellor describe the course as an adventure and an opportunity to meet some interesting people.
“I had always liked science and discovery, but what really drew me to medicine was the sense of community and the depth of people we would get to work with and meet.”
Angela describes being on rural placements as feeling like having an extended family of friends that we live with, as well as staff at the rural schools and doctors in the hospitals.
“We were very quickly welcomed into the community which set up strong support systems and experiences that I am forever grateful for.”
Angela will be going to Monash Health for her internship next year but hopes to return to rural areas in the future after witnessing the lovely and friendly culture of junior doctors rotating from Monash Health in Mildura.
“I would love to spend a couple of years training and acquiring skills in the city to bring with me for when I next find myself going rural.”
Rachel Sultana was awarded the Monash Rural Health Scholarly Intensive Placement Prize, recognizing her scholarly research work during her final year.
Rachel’s research project looked at the experiences of GP placements offered to students and career outcomes of medical students, to try and understand how to make becoming a GP more attractive to medical students.
Having her research submitted for publication is a major achievement considering her research placement only went for six weeks.
In 2024, Rachel will begin her internship in Sale under the Victorian Rural Generalist Program.
“I hope to continue pursuing rural generalist training in the Gippsland region and complete my advanced skills training in paediatrics. I also hope to still have some research involvement in my professional career.”
The Teresa Neale Award was presented to Isobella Kruger for her contribution to rural, remote and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health awareness. The award is sponsored by Wildfire, Monash’s student rural and Indigenous student health club and was presented by Teresa Neale, a retired Monash Rural Health administrative officer. Isabella also received the Robert Mohr Humanitarian Award, for a project report that made a significant contribution to an indigenous community.
Isobella Kruger is a proud Kobumerri and Ngugi woman from the Gold Coast (Yugambeh language) region and will start her internship at the Royal Melbourne Hospital next year.
Isobella has been heavily involved with the Monash Medical Student Society (MUMUS), and advocated for the first identified Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander role on the committee. She has held the position of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Vice President for two years, where she completed a review of the Monash Medical curriculum to better create culturally competent students and doctors. Isobella was also Co-President of WILDFIRE: Monash University's Student Rural and Indigenous Health Club and Indigenous Co-chair of the Australian Medical Student Association (AMSA) in 2023.
Isobella is a tireless advocate for building the community of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical students at Monash University, as well as inspiring the younger generation to pursue a career in medicine. She has undertaken a Medical Cadetship through VACCHO, as part of their pilot cadetship program at Budja Budja Aboriginal Clinic in Halls Gap.
Outside of her medical career, Isobella is an active leader in her community, working as a Reconciliation Action Plan consultant with the Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) in 2021, and co-composer and artist in the creation of the 2021 AMEB Online Orchestra song 'Morning Star & Evening Star', which depicts a Yugambeh dreaming story that has been revitalised and celebrated in community.
Head of School, Professor Shane Bullock, congratulated recipients of the Monash Rural Health sponsored awards.
"On behalf of the School, I congratulate Edmund Proper, Rachel Cole, Angela Frentiu, Rachel Sultana and Isobella Kruger on their well-deserved prizes. Their outstanding work and contribution to our rural communities are outstanding examples of what our graduates can achieve. We wish them all the best in their careers, and we are keen to offer them continued support through our Regional Training Hubs as they begin their postgraduate medical training.”
Photography by Hynesite Photography