Becoming a doctor wasn’t always on my radar. Growing up, I had one main goal: play footy 🏉. Up until Year 10, all I cared about was kicking goals at lunchtime, playing on weekends, and chasing the dream of a pro athlete. School? It was fine—I got decent grades—but I wasn’t one of those kids with a 10-year career plan. In fact, I didn’t really think about life beyond sport until my stepdad gave me a reality check.
He hit me with the classic “what if” question: What if footy doesn’t work out? And, to be fair, I wasn’t some prodigy on the field. I was solid but far from extraordinary. That conversation planted a seed. He suggested I consider a more stable career, maybe even medicine. Initially, I wasn’t sold, but I figured it wouldn’t hurt to explore the idea.
Work Experience: The Game-Changer
In Year 10, I lined up some hospital work experience through a family friend, and honestly, it blew my mind. I spent a week shadowing a doctor in a hospital, getting a behind-the-scenes look at surgeries, clinics, and even the pathology lab (still my only encounter with a pathologist to date). I wasn’t just standing around fetching coffee—I was in operating theatres, seeing real medicine in action. By the end of the week, I realised I could see myself in this world.
That week didn’t light an instant, burning passion for medicine, but it opened my eyes to what a career in healthcare could offer. Plus, I enjoyed the hospital vibe. It felt dynamic, with something new always happening.
The Uni Grind: Biomed as Plan B
Fast forward to Year 12. I sat the UMAT (now UCAT), aiming for direct entry into medicine. Let’s just say it didn’t go as planned. My score wasn’t competitive enough, so I pivoted to Plan B: Biomedicine at Melbourne Uni.
Biomed, for those wondering, is basically a science degree designed for students eyeing med school. Honestly, you could just as easily do a regular science degree, but Biomed bundles all the med school prerequisites, so it’s a bit of a shortcut. Over three years, I smashed through subjects like anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry, all while preparing for the next hurdle: the GAMSAT.
Cracking the GAMSAT and Getting into Postgrad Med
The GAMSAT is no joke. It’s a three-section marathon testing science knowledge, essay writing, and problem-solving. My scores? Mixed bag. I crushed Section 2 (essay writing) with an 81 but tanked the other sections with scores in the 60s. Overall, it wasn’t enough for a competitive, Commonwealth-supported place (CSP), so my spot in med school ended up being secured through this high school cheat code called a guaranteed full-fee place I qualified for back in Year 12 because my end of high school score (the ATAR) was good enough. For those unfamiliar, full-fee places are a hefty investment, but with some family support and Fee-HELP, I was able to make it work.
Med School: From Textbooks to Real Patients
Postgrad med started with the basics: theory-heavy lectures, anatomy labs, and case-based learning. My first year had minimal clinical exposure, which felt a bit dry. But by the third and fourth years, it was all about placements. I spent my days in hospitals, learning on the job, and interacting with real patients.
This is where things got exciting. Clinical placements allowed me to see everything—from routine checkups to complex surgeries. It wasn’t just about memorising facts anymore; it was about applying that knowledge in real-time, often under pressure.
The Mindset Shift
About halfway through med school, I hit a wall. The sheer volume of information was overwhelming. It felt like no matter how much I studied, there was always more. That’s when I made a crucial mindset shift: instead of trying to know everything, I focused on showing up each day with the intention to learn something. One new skill, one new piece of knowledge—that was the goal.
This change in perspective made med school way more manageable and enjoyable. It also taught me that medicine is less about perfection and more about consistent growth.
Life After Med School: Intern to Surgical Registrar
After med school, I jumped into my internship year, rotating through different departments—general medicine, surgery, emergency. It was hands-on, fast-paced, and exactly what I needed to build confidence as a new doctor.
Next up was a surgical resident year. By then, I’d developed a keen interest in surgery. Initially, I thought I’d go into anesthetics, but surgery grabbed my attention, and I’ve been hooked ever since. Now, I’m working as an unaccredited surgical registrar, splitting my time between general surgery and urology.
Final Thoughts
Looking back, my journey into medicine was pretty straightforward, but that’s okay. Whether you’re coming straight from high school or taking the long road through postgrad, the key is to stay focused and adapt. Each step—whether it’s bumbling through the GAMSAT or surviving night shifts—gets you closer to where you want to be.
If you’re considering med school or just curious about the process, feel free to drop your questions or send me a message :)
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