The Hunter River Times

BY DI SNEDDON

Heading into his third year medical exams last year and Jared Lawrence could not have been in a better frame of mind.

Just prior, the 23-year-old from Carrowbrook near Singleton, received two of the highest medical recognitions in Australia.

Jared received the Rural Medical Student Bursary Award at the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Conference in Melbourne. This award is given to just one medical student from Australia and Jared was stunned to be the recipient.

The second award is a two-year rural resident medical officer cadetship from the New South Wales Rural Doctors Network. This scholarship will assist him for his next two years while working on placement at his nominated hospitals.  Again, a prestigious recognition that Jared said is putting him in good stead for the career he has dreamed of since year 11.

Jared said he cannot think of anything more appealing than having his own rural medical practice with the opportunity of having his own agricultural property, maybe running a few head of stud cattle and enjoying life on the land.

As a year 11 student at Maitland’s St Mary’s College, he felt this dream was beyond him but knuckled down and his hard work paid off.  He was accepted to study podiatry at Newcastle University.  After two years he was accepted to the University of New England to study medicine where he has just completed his third year.

Last weekend he headed to Manning Base Hospital at Taree to further his knowledge with a particular study focus on obstetrics, paediatrics and psychology.

His study hasn’t been easy with covid enforcing zoom lectures as opposed to hands-on instruction and the placement component of the degree became far more crucial for Jared’s understanding and knowledge.  He elected to complete his general practice rotation with Associate Professor Dr Aniello Iannuzzi at Warrumbungle Medical Centre at Coonabarabran. It was a decision he is so pleased he made.

“During the placement, I recognised the valuable connection the Doctor developed with his patients and the positive impact a skilled, local, permanent Doctor can make to the health of a rural community,” Jared said adding that the experience gave him a solid understanding of the realities of rural medical practice.

“Limited resources, combined with isolation from specialist medical care requires a highly skilled General practitioner with a diverse skillset and the ability to adapt and excel in any situation and I believe this would lead to a very rewarding career.”

Jared pays tribute to his parents, Harvey and Pauline Lawrence from Spring Mount, Mount Olive and his local education with his early years at Mt Pleasant Public School, Years 7 to 10 at Singleton High and Year 11 at Maitland’s St Mary’s.