Daming Pan

Doctor of Medicine & Bachelor of Biomedicine
China

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"Biomedicine as an undergraduate degree provides me a comprehensive foundation of biomedical knowledge. This gives advantage in the learning experience in MD and it also maximised the research opportunities for me... At the same time, the degree offers a wide range of future careers other than medicine in both research and clinical healthcare."

Daming Pan

Daming started the Doctor of Medicine in 2016, after completing the Bachelor of Biomedicine in 2015 and Trinity College Foundation Studies in 2012, all at the University of Melbourne.

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Why the Doctor of Medicine?

I chose to study MD because I want to become a good doctor in the future and the University of Melbourne provides the top medical education in Australia.

I enjoyed my study cohort the most. They are always willing to explain what I don’t understand, and group discussions are often helpful. I formed a study group with my friends and we have been very supportive of each other. Communication and teamwork were important skills developed from my study group. This has been useful in preparing me to become a medical student. We support each other in both academics and our general wellbeing.

Why the Bachelor of Biomedicine?

I chose to study the Bachelor of Biomedicine because the course provides a good foundation for clinical medicine. It also allowed me more time to consider whether I wanted to be a doctor.

The Bachelor of Biomedicine provides a broad range of biomedical knowledge with depth in different majors.

I majored in pharmacology as I was interested in the mechanism of how drugs work. My chemistry tutor at Trinity College Foundation Studies, Mei Fong, once said: ‘If you want to become a doctor, your patients will expect you to know everything about the medication you give them.’ This has inspired my passion in pharmacology.

Why do the Bachelor of Biomedicine and Doctor of Medicine make a great pairing?

Biomedicine as an undergraduate degree provides me a comprehensive foundation of biomedical knowledge. This gives advantage in the learning experience in MD and it also maximised the research opportunities for me.

A three-year degree before MD also provide sufficient time to let me consider if medicine is really my future career. At the same time, the degree offers a wide range of future careers other than medicine in both research and clinical healthcare.

Biomedicine is helpful even in MD as doctors are usually working with staff from other disciplines such as allied health. Having a good knowledge of other healthcare careers helped to improve teamwork during clinical placement in medical school.

For example, I really enjoyed my fourth year of the Doctor of Medicine course. I spent most of my time in the Sunshine and Footscray hospitals learning from lectures given by practising physicians and patient-doctor interactions. I chose to study MD because I want to become a good doctor in the future and Melbourne University provides the top medical education in Australia.

Chinese:

生物医学学位在本科三年时间给我的生物医学理论知识打下了良好的基础。这为我在MD课程的第一年提供了不少优势,因为MD的第一年学习正是对本科知识的加深。本科三年的理论学习,也给足了我充分的时间来思考是否读医是适合我的未来的道路。这个本科的课程,不仅提供给学生进入医学院的机会,同时也敞开了生物医学领域其他行业的大门。临床方面,学生在毕业后可以继续就读成为牙医,听力学家,验光师,理疗师等等。 科研方面,不仅墨尔本大学本身提供很多生物医学对口的科研项目,大学周边围绕的许多研究所(例如维多利亚州最大的癌症研究中心Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre,以及澳洲资格最老,以疟疾研究为名的Walter and Eliza Hall Institute)也提供了非常多的研究项目可供学生在本科毕业后选择。即使我现在在医学院就读,本科期间对其他相关行业的了解对我现在的学业事业也有着很大的帮助,因为医生在澳洲的工作和以上提到的职业都是密不可分的。

Why the University of Melbourne?

Initially I had decided to study at the University of Melbourne due to its reputation of academic and research success, and my decision was reinforced by the flexibility of undergraduate degrees here. I particularly looked forward to studying German under the School of languages, having been exposed to its programs in high school.

Breadths:

I went to Osaka University Hospital in Japan for elective rotation during holidays and knowing Japanese helped me in that learning experience. I would regret if I did not take Japanese as my breadth subject because the language skill made the whole hospital and travel experience much more enjoyable

I was interested in studying nutrition (UNIB10009 Food for a Healthy Planet). However, I eventually found this field of study was not what I imagined, so I then focused on other subjects. This shows the importance of breadth subjects as they can help focus your interests.

University highlights

During my postgraduate study, I went to the National University of Singapore Hospital and Osaka University Hospital during holidays for my elective rotations and both were excellent overseas learning experiences. It was a good chance to learn different healthcare cultures in another country and these were brilliant opportunities for travelling as well. In addition, I had the change to apply for regional hospitals such as Ballarat Hospital to experience rural health rotations. The University of Melbourne is always very supportive in assisting elective applications.

Chinese:

医学院的在读期间,我有很多可以去海外医院学习选修的机会。过去的假期里,我有幸在新加坡国立大学医院和大阪大学医院学习过。海外选修的经历让我对当地的医疗文化能够有近距离的认识,也有机会学习到各地先进的医疗技术及知识。除了海外的选修,我还有机会去到维多利亚州的郊区医院做选修。因为郊区医院也是当地医疗系统非常重要的一个部分,所以对于留学生身份的我来说,这是一个很好的融入当地医疗文化的机会。

Daming Pan

Advice for students

Transition to university:

It was not an easy time transitioning to a new country but teaching staff at Trinity College were all very supportive. The student wellbeing office at Trinity was where I usually went for help. They were able to make the process of changing accommodation much smoother.

I would also recommend the counselling services offered by them for when a student is under stress either due to academic performance or general wellbeing. The teachers from Trinity College are also always willing to give academic feedback after class.

Teaching staff at the University are generally very approachable. I encourage students to ask lecturers and tutors questions directly after class or through emails. In this way, not only do students learn from them but they also build connections with professionals. This could maximise opportunities for extracurriculars, such as working in the same research team as the lecturers.

I felt generally well-protected when I was studying at Trinity College and it was a great experience.

Chinese:

大学的教师团队都非常的友好,平易近人,因此我鼓励学生们多主动向老师们在课后提问。这样不仅可以巩固所学的知识,也可以拉近和学校老师们的关系。与各领域学术的佼佼者的进一步交流中,不难会发现很多课外活动的可能,例如和他们一起做科研的难得机会。

Find out more about the Doctor of Medicine

Find out more about the Bachelor of Biomedicine