THE Warrnambool campus of the Deakin Medical School has again produced the dux of the school.
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In a remarkable record, a Warrnambool-based student has won the dux of the school title for the third time in four years.
The winner, Steven Nicolaides, had not even heard of Warrnambool a few years ago but now recommends his fellow students complete their medical training here.
Dr Nicolaides topped this year’s cohort of 117 graduates from all of the school’s campuses including Geelong, Box Hill, Ballarat and Camperdown. Dr Nicolaides, from Melbourne, said he felt a little embarrassed about his previous lack of knowledge about Warrnambool.
“I’d never heard of Warrnambool to be honest, which is pretty surprising because it is such a great town and has been a wonderful place to live,” he said.
“Because it’s a small group of students (at Warrnambool) you get to know the consultants and senior doctors by their first names.
“In terms of the support you get from the medical school, the feedback we heard from previous students made it seem like the best place to complete our training.”
This was his first country living experience and he is looking to return after completing his specialty training at St Vincent’s hospital in Melbourne.
“My long-term plan is to be a physician and I am particularly interested in cardiology, gastrointestinal and respiratory medicine.
“I’d ideally like to practice rurally in a hospital like Warrnambool.
“I just like the culture, the friendly nature of people and doctors here do a lot more general medicine, rather than being sub-specialised as tends to be the case in Melbourne.”