Future medical students

Touch of Toowoomba: University of Queensland Rural Clinical School

YEAR 11 students from across the Darling Downs and Burnett attended a work experience program at the University of Queensland Rural Medical School.

Like all good work experience students, they rolled the sleeves up and practised medical techniques.

For many, the highlight was suturing a pig’s trotter. Tom Head

I want to pursue a career in medicine, and this was a good day to gain some experience before graduating.

I have certainly not sewn up a pig’s foot before.

We learnt about the different systems of the body and the practical skills of how to sew or stitch a wound.

Earlier, I went to the University of Queensland for a medical lecture.

I would like to be a GP. I feel like giving back to the community, plus being a GP is a good way to meet people.

My mum is a midwife, and she inspired me to be involved in medicine. Millicent O’Hagan

Once you get the hang of suturing, it is easy, but I had a few mess ups earlier.

We mapped out the different anatomical systems, such as the digestive, nervous and respiratory systems.

I am keen to be a doctor. I like helping people and I am interested in the body.

I have been to a couple of open days like this.

I have an aunt who is a psychiatrist and an uncle who is a GP – they gave me a few ideas about what to study.

I’ll practise suturing on paper, some playdough or maybe my little sister.

I want to do paediatrics, obstetrics or orthopaedics.

I have had a few broken bones, and I have a knack for looking after children. Lauren Denman

It was good to see what it is like to be a medical student and to get information about studying medicine.

I want to do something that helps people, and I enjoy science and maths so medicine would be a good career.

I want to take as many opportunities as possible to learn about the industry.

The trick to sewing a pig’s foot is it make sure you have enough string, hold the implements correctly and tie the knots correctly so everything does not fall out.

We have not dissected any animals at school, but we have cut open a pig’s heart to look at the muscles.

I think my needlework was pretty good.

We live here ‘cos we love it!

Picture: Michael Nolan SHARP MINDS: Learning to suture a pig’s foot at the University of Queensland Rural Clinical School 2020 school work experience program are (from left) Tom Head from Concordia College, Millicent O'Hagan from Toowoomba Christian College and Lauren Denman from St Ursula's College.