Northern Territory Medical Program student Pumudi Abeywardana was not sure what she wanted to do while in school at Darwin High but after a placement at Royal Darwin Hospital, she was inspired to pursue a career in medicine.

Now in her second year of the four-year Doctor of Medicine (MD) through Flinders University, she couldn’t be surer of the career path she’s chosen. Pumudi entered the Flinders NT Medical Program through the Year 12 entry pathway, where students undertake two years of the Bachelor of Clinical Sciences at Charles Darwin University before transferring into the Flinders MD.

The workload has picked up this year with a greater emphasis on clinical work – in preparation for studies in year 3 and 4 which are clinical-based at hospitals and clinics across the Northern Territory.

One of the advantages of the program for Pumudi is the small cohort with a supportive group of staff and lecturers who are happy to help and go over new information.

“Our cohort is small, and so the element of competitiveness that I’ve seen from my friends who are doing medicine at other unis with big cohorts is not here because there’s 24 of us. Everyone wants to pass and become a doctor,” Pumudi said.

“So, we’re really helpful towards each other and we can easily go to the teachers for any extra help.”

She’s also glad she chose to study medicine at home in Darwin, and not interstate where she would be without her tight-knit support networks.

“It would be a nightmare having to be able to make weekly rent and then afford all the other expenses on top of being able to study every day. So, it’s an advantage having home close by,” she said.

Pumudi is looking forward to becoming a doctor where there was a breadth of career paths and roles she could work in.

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