Medical School receives maximum accreditation
Nov 30, 2006
The University of Wollongong Graduate School of Medicine (GSM) has received six years accreditation from the Australian Medical Council – the maximum allowable for new medical schools by the peak national medical education standards body. Graduate School of Medicine Foundation Dean Professor John Hogg revealed details of the AMC accreditation today (29 November) when he introduced three members of the first cohort of 80 students, who will start the new Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree at UOW’s Wollongong and Shoalhaven Campuses on 29 January, 2007. Professor Hogg said receiving the maximum accreditation was a credit to the University, and to all the GSM staff, supported by doctors and members of the community, who had worked tirelessly to develop a high quality curriculum and first-class facilities at the two campuses. “This is a very exciting time for the University, and for our region,” Professor Hogg said. “We believe the Graduate School of Medicine will have an enormous impact on medical services and the health of people living in the Illawarra, Shoalhaven and throughout regional, rural and remote areas of Australia in the years to come. “We have developed an innovative, high-tech model for medical education for the 21st century, and are focused on training doctors committed to working as GPs and specialists in regional, rural and remote Australia.” Professor Hogg said the 72 domestic and eight international students had been chosen after an exhaustive selection and interview process. “We have an excellent cohort of students for the first year of the Graduate School of Medicine,” he said. Professor Hogg said the candidates had a wide range of undergraduate degrees, with an average age of 26. Many were residents of the Illawarra and Shoalhaven. “As you would expect, many of our applicants had a science background, particularly in the biological and medical sciences and fields like physiotherapy, psychiatry, pharmacy and even dentistry,” he said. “We also had some outstanding applicants with degrees in other disciplines including law, engineering, commerce, earth sciences and social sciences.” Professor Hogg said the GSM had been developed as a community-based school, and had received enormous support from medical community in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven, as well as the general community.Key points about the GSM: The GSM has selected students who have indicated their commitment to working as GPs or specialists in regional, rural or remote Australia, and so will have a long-term impact on the health of Australians living in those areaSpecially-designed GSM buildings have been completed and are operational at the Wollongong and Shoalhaven CampusesThe GSM will accept 80 students per year, with 56 based in Wollongong and 24 in the ShoalhavenThe GSM has been established with generous financial support from the Federal and NSW GovernmentsIt is a community-based school, strongly supported by the medical fraternity of the Illawarra and ShoalhavenThe GSM will develop a strong research focus, building on the key research strengths of the University which include medical radiation physics, nanotechnology, molecular biology, cancer drug research, nutrition and exercise science.
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