Country students become doctors

Six students from the Warren-Blackwood region graduated from the University of Western Australia’s medical school last month.

Graduate and former Manjimup Senior High School student Danielle Malatzky will go on to intern at Fiona Stanley Hospital for 2017.

“I do feel a sense of pride in being one of the many country students graduating this year,” she said.

“There’s nothing about being a rural student that should hold you back from seeking higher education.”

The six students form part of 60 rural students from 22 country towns to graduate from UWA’s medical program.

It was the biggest number of rural background doctors to graduate in a single year.

“I definitely think that rural students have particular understandings that will make them better doctors — for example understanding that driving all the way up to Perth for an appointment is quite a big time commitment,” Ms Malatzky said.

“Certain things like this make me really proud to graduate with a bunch of fantastic up-and-coming doctors.

Manjimup Senior High School vice principal Steve Miolin said it was fantastic students from the area were continuing on to higher education.

The other graduates from the region are Merredith Cully, Georgia Mather-McCaw, Dylan Prunster, Geoffrey Ryan and Callum Peet.