The University of Sydney this week welcomed the intial cohort of students studying the University’s new full four-year Doctor of Medicine (MD) beginning to end program in Dubbo. Students in the Dubbo MD stream will study the same world-class University of Sydney MD with the added benefits of living and studying in a regional location while gaining hands-on experience in rural and remote medical practice. 

Emily Turnbull (2015) was particularly attracted to the rural focus of the program. “I’m really excited to be studying in Dubbo, being born and raised on a farm, I’m thrilled with the opportunity to study a program that has a focus on rural medicine. I love living in the country and I’m hoping that when I finish my studies, I’ll be able to come back to my community as a doctor,” said Emily. 

All the students in the first cohort have lived in rural Australia including many who grew up in the Central West and Western NSW regions. Calrossy Careers Advisor Mr. Charles Impey said, “Students from Regional NSW are very excited about this program and many others that are now available. With the range of courses now available on  Regional University Campuses, they are attracting many of our alumni who can undertake their studies closer to home. The Calrossy Community is very proud that Emily is part of the first intake and we wish her every success in her future endeavours.”

Professor Cheryl Jones, Head of School and Dean of Sydney Medical School, said the University was thrilled with the  high demand for the program. “We are really encouraged by the interest and are very pleased to welcome our first full cohort of 24 students. These students are in addition to the 234 new students who commenced the program in metropolitan Sydney. The Dubbo Stream students will be a valuable addition to our strong commitment to training rurally committed doctors and other health professionals. 

The Dubbo stream has been developed under the Australian Government’s Murray-Darling Medical Schools Network (MDMSN). Professor Mark Arnold, Head of the University’s Rural Clinical School in Dubbo said: “It is really rewarding to see how the efforts of the Sydney Medical School over the past decade have been supported by the Commonwealth with the result that we have welcomed 24 students this week.” 

The good news just keeps on coming for Calrossy Alumni with the recent announcement of Savanna Cull (2020) Ma Morley Scholarship and of the news filtering out from our Class of 2021 from all students. Principal David Smith said "I am so pleased for the entire 2021 cohort and how the students and teachers dealt with the challenges and achieved these excellent results through learning in partnership. I have no doubt they will thrive in their exciting futures beyond school and make an impact across the globe and having a amazing regional facilities and programs such as Rural Clinical School on our doorstep is such a positive for all High School graduates into the future.