18 December 2023

The inaugural recipient of the East Gippsland Medical Scholarship is Thomas Esler, who was recognised for his support of other rural medical students and interest in pursuing a career in rural health.

Despite completing most of his schooling in Melbourne, Thomas has developed a strong interest in pursuing a career in rural health, following placements at Central Gippsland Health in Sale and in General Practice at Bairnsdale Medical Group earlier this year as a fourth-year medical student.

ÔÇ£I very much enjoyed my placements in Sale and Bairnsdale this year and felt welcomed by the East Gippsland community. I’m looking forward to returning to complete some of my rotations next year.ÔÇØ

Throughout the year, Thomas has been an active member of WILDFIRE; Monash University’s Student Rural and Indigenous Health Club, hosting social events and teaching sessions for the second-year medical students who visited Bairnsdale as part of a rural placement program. He has also given his time as a volunteer tutor for the Regional Education Support Network (RESN), providing online academic support to secondary school students from rural and remote areas.

Thomas is a student member of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM), highlighting his interest in becoming a rural generalist in the future.

ÔÇ£Whilst I’m still working out my career plans, I’m interested in general practice, emergency medicine and retrieval medicine, so hope to do some combination of these in the future. The flexibility of a career in rural generalism appeals to me so I am considering pursuing ACRRM training in the future so I will likely end up training and working in rural areas.ÔÇØ

The East Gippsland Medical Scholarship is funded by Rural Workforce Agency Victoria (RWAV), to recognise students studying medicine who have demonstrated a commitment to health in the Wellington and East Gippsland Shire. Thomas was very grateful for this support.

ÔÇ£I am very grateful to receive this scholarship which will greatly assist with the costs of studying medicine, particularly in relation to accommodation and travel expenses, giving me more time to focus on my placements and studies.ÔÇØ

Find out more information about the East Gippsland Medical Scholarship.

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