Attadale local Silvia Piviali is looking forward to studying medicine at Curtin University’s proposed medical school.
The Curtin graduate and mother of two young children said she had often considered studying medicine.
“I’d like to study medicine to put to good use what I consider are ideal personal qualities for a doctor – being compassionate and caring toward others, a good communicator and being curious about how the body works,” Silvia said.
Silvia said having her children, three-year-old Jonathan and seven-month-old Chiara, had meant she had put her ambitions to study medicine on hold for the time being. But the prospect of the five-year direct entry undergraduate degree proposed by Curtin University was very attractive.
“It was in December of 2010 when I heard on the radio that Curtin University was considering offering this course and I thought ‘at last, if anyone is equipped, it’s Curtin,’” she said.
Silvia said she believed Western Australia needed more locally trained doctors servicing the community quickly.
“A direct route into medical studies provides an opportunity for keen students to start their medical education immediately, rather than working through an unrelated three-year undergraduate degree,” she said.
“It also seems unfair that direct-entry medical degrees are available in other parts of Australia, but not in WA.”
Silvia graduated from Curtin in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science (Medical Science)* and now has her own business as an editor and science communicator.
She said she was the first member of her family to go to university and had developed a strong passion for Curtin, which had deepened over the years in her professional working life.
“I believe the quality of Curtin’s teaching staff, the great facilities, the team-based approach to learning and the many years of experience of delivering clinical courses like medical science and nursing make it the perfect candidate for WA’s next medical school,” she said.
As a student, the 32-year-old said she had developed a love for the world of microbes and disease but said she would ultimately love to work as a general practitioner.
“Naturally, whilst an infectious disease or microbiology specialty would be fantastic, it’s not that conducive to family life so I would probably lean toward a general practitioner specialty and servicing the community,” she said.
To register support for Curtin University’s proposed medical school visit doctorsforthefuture.com.au
Note to editor
* This degree is now known as the Bachelor of Science (Laboratory Medicine).
Contact:
Kristy Jones, Public Relations, Curtin University
Tel: 08 9266 9085, Mobile: 0402 517 300, Email: k.jones@curtin.edu.au
Web: http://curtin.edu.au
