OzTREKK Director Matt Miernik speaks with a student following the UQ MBBS Information Workshop in Calgary.

OzTREKK‘s Matt Miernik and Cathy McNally just returned from their trip to Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto, where they hosted information workshops for students who have applied through OzTREKK to the University of Queensland’s Medical School program in Australia.

The workshops provided students with more indepth information about the University of Queensland medical school and options for coming back to Canada to practise medicine. Matt and Cathy had great time meeting with students and their family members.

Here’s a snapshot of our time in each city:

Vancouver – July 6:
-Matt provided a presentation that outlined UQ’s medical school program to the 25 who attended.
-He explained the core elective and rotation schedule, and outlined when they are, and where they can be, completed.
-A live Skype call with Prof. Ray Peterson, UQ’s medical school curriculum chair. Prof. Peterson outlined the four-year program itinerary and answered program questions posed by those at the workshop.
-Matt then provided an overview of the students’ options following graduation. Information included residency and licensing options both in Canada and abroad, and was directed to students who want to return to British Columbia to practise medicine.

Calgary – July 7:
-Matt provided students with the same presentation, but provided information relevant for Alberta residents. This includes the licensing and residency options for students who wish to return to Alberta to practise medicine.
-A Skype call was put in to Prof. Ray Peterson, and following that, Matt took questions.
-Thirty-one people attended the information seminar, and many of the questions Matt answered had to do with residency options following the successful completion of the UQ Medical School.

Toronto – July 8:
-With more than 100 people at this information workshop, Matt fielded many questions while making his presentation. Again, he outlined the program and campus life.
-Thea Watson, Senior Coordinator, Strategic Marketing and Outreach for Health Force Ontario travels across the world to recruit physicians to Ontario. She attended this session to outline residency and licensing options for students who wish to return to Ontario and practise medicine following completion at the UQ Medical School. Her experience was invaluable to students who wanted to learn more about their postgraduate residency options. She also provided information kits to students, which includes Australian-medical-school-specific information about their options following graduation.
-Following the session, Matt, Cathy and Thea spoke individually with students and their families to answer any questions they had about studying medicine in Australia.

OzTREKK was so impressed by the amount of research the students have already done on their own, and our intent was to answer any questions they had in order to provide students with the necessary information to help make the decision to study medicine at the University of Queensland medical school in Australia.

Learn more about Australian Medical Schools in Australia

Learn more about the Queensland Medical School program.