Student Highlights
Muhaymin is taking medicine rural and becoming a change leader

Muhaymin, born from Pakistani descent, moved from Wollongong to the University of Newcastle to pursue the Bachelor of Medical Science/Doctor of Medicine. Taking his enthusiasm for medicine, he found Newcastle offered committed study cohorts to obtain his goal of easing the discomfort of others.

“I have always only been interested in the field of health because communicating with people and problem solving to help ease another’s discomfort is a passion of mine. I am also interested in working in remote/rural areas and the JMP’s connection with rural health connected with me,” he said.

Muhaymin recalls his love of the Newcastle lifestyle and the reputation of the JMP program convincing him to apply.

“I have loved visiting Newcastle for years and I’ve always found it to be a nice ‘in-between’ from Armidale (a country town) and a big city like Sydney. I love the beaches and I am all about swimming and surfing nowadays so honestly a big part of moving was to be closer to the coast and Newcastle seemed like a great place to transition to.

“I heard great things about the JMP and the cohort (number of students, teachers, tutorials etc.) and after researching it, I knew it would be my first choice. I also liked the connection University of Newcastle has to rural health,” he said.

The small cohort sizes and personalised teaching experiences have made Muhaymin feel more relaxed and assured with his studies.

“I have loved the studying experience so far; the tutorials are held in small groups, so you really get a personal teaching experience with most of the learning held through group discussions and problem solving. This is how I have always wanted to do my learning,” Muhaymin said.

During his studies, Muhaymin received the Ma and Morley Scholarship. This scholarship gives students exposure to leaders providing local and global solutions to challenges and provides an opportunity to take part in a leadership program aligned to the values of the scholarship.

Learning he had been awarded the Scholarship, Muhaymin was overjoyed and felt more confident in relocating to Newcastle.

“I felt absolutely ecstatic. I had a smile plastered on my face for a long time. It gave me a huge sense of relief and more confidence to be able to move to another city to study,” he said.

Telling the news to his family, Muhaymin’s dad was reassuring he was going to be okay.

“I had been updating my dad on my progress through the scholarship application and I was so excited to let him know. His happiness when he found out also made me happier!” he said.

Muhaymin has utilised his Scholarship as a development tool to understand the Aboriginal culture and help transform him into the leader he hopes to be to provoke change in the world.

"The scholarship has provided me with many opportunities thus far; obviously, I’m able to study with a clearer mind whilst receiving financial help. My scholarship also facilitates multiple leadership workshops throughout my degree to help facilitate my development into a person who will one day provoke change in the world.

“The scholarship has an amazing, deep connection to country and Aboriginal culture, and it has been beautiful learning and experiencing it myself. I also have on country immersions to look forward to in the coming years which will be a remarkable experience,” he said.

Muhaymin feels the scholarship will give him a better chance to be the leader he wants to be.

“The scholarship is setting all of us up to have the best possible chance to act on our values and to build up a cohort of future leaders,” he said.

Looking to the future, Muhaymin hopes to work in rural areas and eventually start his own practice to educate others.

“I know I want to train and work in rural/remote areas when I graduate. Eventually I want to start my own practice, and somehow gather enough resources to be able to build schools for women in places where education, especially for women, is scarce,” he said.

Muhaymin encourages any student wanting to apply for a scholarship to do it and take advantage of the opportunities provided to them.

“It has been assisting me throughout my degree so much and I cannot stress enough to anyone reading that you must apply for any scholarship you can!” he said.

`

Muhaymin Khan

Muhaymin Khan experienced the Newcastle way of life and knew he wanted to study here. Providing him the opportunity to study Medicine in a way he had always wanted and receiving the Ma and Morley Scholarship added to the attraction.

The scholarship is setting all of us up to have the best possible chance to act on our values and to build up a cohort of future leaders