When he’s not surfing, attending legendary tennis matches at the Australian Open and reveling in life in Oz, Christopher Ford is hard at work, studying in the University of Melbourne Doctor of Medicine program.

After graduating with his bachelor’s degree from the University of Ottawa, Chris made the trek to Australia with the help of OzTREKK. He said he settled on Australia, after considering going to other locales, including Ireland, the Caribbean, or staying in Canada for several years. It wasn’t until he started researching the quality of educational opportunities available in Australia that he made up his mind.

“I ultimately decided to go to Australia due to the high standard of education,” he told The OzTREKKER. “Australian medical schools consistently score very highly on the QS and Times Higher (Education Supplement) world university rankings.”

The educational aspects of his decision started paying off the moment he set foot on the University of Melbourne campus. Enrolled in the inaugural class of the University of Melbourne Doctor of Medicine, the new four-year, graduate-entry medical program has provided both ups and downs, he said.

Overall, Chris said the dedication by the university to the program has made it worthwhile.

One of the positive aspects of studying medicine at Melbourne is gaining early clinical exposure, complete with amazing clinical schools with dedicated deans. Chris said being able to attain hands-on experience has proven extremely beneficial for his learning.

“I love being in the hospital after only one year of pre-clinical study as I find it much easier to learn and retain information when you see it in the context of a patient rather than a textbook,” he said.

Although Chris noted that the first year was challenging in terms of course workload and that the clinical schools are spread out and not in close proximity to the university itself, he said a highlight of the Doctor of Medicine program is the exposure to a variety of different fields of medicine in only the second year of the four-year program.

School aside, when Chris decided on Australia, he was also looking for a place where he could experience a different culture – while still benefitting from school. Boy, did Oz deliver.

“Another reason I chose Australia was for the lifestyle. Aussies put a lot of emphasis on work-life balance so I figured I would be able to balance medical school and still get to do a bit of travel while studying,” he said.

Chris has hit the beach in Cairns, tried his hand at surfing, witnessed action at the Australian Open and has travelled to 12 Apostles in Victoria – only to mention a few of his adventures.

But between travels in his free time from school, Chris relaxes like a true Canuck: he laces up and shoots a few pucks.

“Believe it or not, I actually still play hockey in my free time,” he said.

“There is a state-of-the-art arena a few minutes outside of the downtown core and even though there aren’t many teams in the league, it’s still a decent level of competition,” he said.

Aside from hockey, Chris said he enjoys checking out the pubs and shops around the city and suburbs – as well as catching a game of Aussie rules football.

“I usually eat out twice a week and even though I have a few favourite places, there are plenty of new places to try within walking distance,” he said. “On the weekends the footy is on and going to the matches always makes for a fun night.”

Chris is currently in his third year of studies at UofM – and already the decision of location after graduation is weighing on him. Since he’s fallen in love with Oz, he said it won’t be easy to leave, but he knows he wants to return to Canada eventually.

“I am still undecided whether I would like to finish training in Australia and move back to Canada once fully trained or whether I would like to do residency in Canada,” he said.

Either way, Chris said he’s excited about this part of his life taking shape, feeling he was drawn to medicine.

Not only does it seem to suit his personality, but he said he thrives when having to adapt to new challenges.

“I enjoy personal interaction so any career that allows you to work in a team to help other people is very appealing to me,” he said.

“Also, medicine is a dynamic field that is constantly evolving. I like knowing that change and progress are key components of medicine and that new challenges will always present themselves.”

For Canadians moving to Oz for the first time to start their studies, Chris offers sage advice: it’s all about keeping connected.

He said staying in touch with family and friends at home is essential. In his experience, video calling through Skype is a great way to stay in contact, even if it does prove challenging sometimes with the time difference.

“There are a lot of things to consider when applying and it really depends on who you are that will determine what is most important to you,” he said.

To help ease the transition to being so far from home, Chris suggests keeping that Canadian connection alive in Oz.

“I would advise that you get in touch with someone who is already at the university that you’re applying to. There are plenty of Canadians studying medicine in Australia and pretty much all of us are happy to help out a fellow Canuck!”

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This story first appeared in the February edition of The OzTREKKER! Interested in learning more about Australian medical schools or about studying medicine at the University of Melbourne? Apply today through OzTREKK!