Tina Thorburn
"The Melbourne Model really appealed because at 18, I wasn't sure that I wanted to do Medicine. I'm more certain now. It's a really good system, it allows you to open your mind and make informed choices later," says Biomedicine student Tina Thorburn.
Tina grew up in the United States, attended boarding school in the UK and then came to Melbourne for a Gap year. She stayed on to study Biomedicine at the University of Melbourne because of the great range of choices available to her during the course.
Her grandparents back in the States couldn't understand why she would go straight into six years of Medicine without doing undergraduate study, as the contrast in acquiring a medical degree in the UK, Australia and the US is very different. So they supported her in her decision to stay in Melbourne to study Biomedicine.
Tina was inspired to do Medicine when she has the chance to volunteer in hospitals in the USA and UK.
"It was there that I realised it's not all about ER!" she says.
She was accepted to study Medicine in the UK but declined as she thought the Melbourne Model path to Medicine would be more enriching and fulfilling.
It was these real-life experiences and her love of travelling that led her to volunteer for a Global Vision international program in Guatemala. Tina travelled there for three weeks in January to help build stoves in the homes of impoverished locals.
"Working and living with these people really opened my eyes. Despite their lack of worldly belongings, they smiled and laughed constantly. It was a reminder of how lucky I am, and I can’t wait to go back."
Tina really enjoys biology and physiology, but also enjoys branching out into other areas by taking history as a breadth subject, which she says is a great break from science. Tina is also President of the Biomedicine Student Society.
As for the future, Tina is now certain that she wants to study medicine. But she is thrilled that she can develop a wide range of skills throughout her undergraduate degree.
Eventually she wants to become a surgeon, so maybe a future on ER is just around the corner after all.