Despite enjoying his work as a physiotherapist, Damiano Tomassoni is grateful for the opportunity to study medicine with Monash Rural Health, describing his experience studying medicine regionally as part of the End-to-End Rural Cohort as nothing short of phenomenal.

Working as a physiotherapist, Damiano Tomassoni was inspired to pursue medicine after working closely with patients and seeing the impact of comprehensive medical care.

“I wanted to broaden my scope of practice and deepen my knowledge to provide more holistic care to my patients.”

Damiano’s background in physiotherapy gave him a strong foundation in understanding the human body and patient care, which was beneficial, however, the breadth and depth of knowledge required in medicine were significantly greater.

“I had to adapt to a more rigorous and expansive curriculum, but my passion for learning and commitment to improving patient care kept me motivated.”

Throughout his learning, he felt well supported with practical and hands-on experience and excellent support that he found far superior to metropolitan settings.

“Most people know your name in a few days, and the attention to detail in terms of teaching and gaining practical skills is extremely well thought out. There are numerous resources available and the facilities and simulation lab are incredible with state-of-the-art teaching facilities.”

Studying in Mildura, Damiano has found the student culture is great with all the students forming a tight-knit group.

“It’s almost like a family environment with weekly dinners amongst the student accommodation houses. It’s a very wholesome and collegiate environment with the camaraderie unlike anything else.”

Additionally, balancing his studies with work as a physiotherapist for Mildura Football and Netball Club has been enriching and kept him grounded in patient care.

“It is a fantastic club that is really community minded and has a very sociable aspect and it has been a great way to meet the local community.”

Damiano has also found working on rural placements incredibly rewarding, providing him with huge and diverse clinical experiences and the opportunity to make an impact in the communities. He particularly enjoyed his time in the Mildura Base Public Hospital emergency department, and was inspired by the extremely caring, thorough and efficient approach of a local Mildura GP who was relaxed and humorous, with an evidence-based approach that made him a real asset to the community.

For any Monash physiotherapy graduates considering joining the End-to-End Rural Cohort, Damiano would encourage you to go for it.

“The skills and knowledge you already possess as a physiotherapist will be a strong foundation for your medical studies. The rural cohort offers unique opportunities to work in diverse and often underserved communities, which can be incredibly fulfilling. Lastly, the rural experience can help build resilience, adaptability, and a strong sense of community, which are invaluable traits in any medical career.”

Learn more about the Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine

Learn more about the End-to-End Rural Cohort