Brad Waixel

Graduate entry medicine

Tell us about your pathway to studying medicine.

Being from a small country town, I graduated from Alexandra Secondary College in 2020 and was inspired by my biology teacher to pursue a career in the field of medicine.

Initially, I was accepted into the Bachelor of Biomedical Science at Monash University, which drove my curiosity in the field further, having the chance to explore an incredibly diverse course curriculum. Given my background in volunteering and teaching roles, I knew I wanted to pursue a career that allowed me to engage and help people and patients daily. While I considered pursuing a career in physiotherapy or nursing, I felt medicine offered the most challenging and rewarding career for me. I applied to the graduate entry medicine pathway and was lucky enough to be accepted!

Why did you choose to study medicine at Monash?

Initially, I joined Monash for my bachelor's due to their strong community values, innovative teaching and the Clayton campus offered great access as a rural student commuting. After completing my bachelor's, I felt Monash offered a highly respected and praised medical degree and incredible opportunities to study rurally. While some students may be hesitant about the longer course time compared to direct entry, I’m very thankful for the unique experiences that my bachelor’s offered me and how they will shape me as a future doctor.

Where have you completed your placements so far? What have been some of the highlights of these?

My first year of medicine sent me to Monash Rural Health in Churchill, with pre-clinical content delivered at the Federation University campus, and fortnightly clinical placements at Latrobe Regional Health. I decided to remain in Gippsland over the following 2 years, completing placements at West Gippsland Hospital (Warragul), Central Gippsland Health (Sale), and Heyfield Medical Centre.

The greatest highlight of my degree so far has been my 18-week GP placement at Heyfield Medical Centre. The team there are some of the most inspiring doctors I have ever met, and the commitment to their community is astounding. As a student, I was incredibly privileged to parallel consult and see my own patients and really be included as part of the team."

What other activities or opportunities have you been involved with as a Monash medical student?

Throughout my time as a medical student, I have stayed involved in peer mentoring roles to help new medical students settle in! Monash Rural Health is incredibly accommodating in hosting student-run sessions to practice our clinical skills. I have also enjoyed getting involved in the local communities I’m placed in, joining the cricket, football, badminton and tennis clubs to play and volunteer with!

What are your career aspirations at this stage? 

Given my rural background and placements so far, I would love to pursue a career as a Rural Generalist, combining the role of a GP with a sub-specialty in paediatrics or obstetrics. General Practitioners play a key role in being the first point of contact for many patients, while also often having the chance to build genuine connections across many years. The continuity of care is what draws me to general practice and empowers me, knowing I can make a real difference in the small rural town I may work at.

I’m also incredibly passionate about preventative medicine with holistic approaches to improving the wellbeing of patients in rural communities. My time in Heyfield showed me how special it is to care for people before they become unwell, and to improve the quality of life using an array of non-pharmacological and more interventional approaches.

Regardless of the specialty I end up in, I’m excited to return to rural practice as a junior doctor and for my foreseeable career.

What advice would you give a rural secondary student considering applying for medicine?

As a secondary student, life after high school can be daunting. I would urge everyone to aspire to be their best selves, working hard academically to open as many opportunities as possible.

Becoming a doctor has been the most rewarding journey I could have gone on - but it took a little longer for me to decide that’s what I wanted. It’s ok to take the time you need to explore other pathways. Medicine is not a door that closes immediately if you don’t apply after high school. It certainly stayed open for me!

In saying that, as a rural student, you likely have many ideas and experiences that can shape you to be a wonderful doctor, especially a caring doctor who can consider marginalised communities. So, if you have the passion, the curiosity, and the willingness to be there for people on their very best and very worst days, then apply to Monash Medicine and begin what will be an exciting and rewarding career. Hopefully, I’ll see you around!