Virtual Medical Centre Lund University Scholarship |
Background of the Virtual Medical Centre Lund University Scholarship
In 2003, Virtual Cancer Centre established a scholarship to support the Lund Cancer Exchange, offered by the University of Western Australia (UWA).
The exchange program was founded in 2002 by Professor Håken Olsson (Oncology department - Lund University) and Virtual Cancer Centre.
The first exchange took place in 2003 and was an overwhelming success, with the only negative being the financial burden to the students, who had to pay for their airfares. It was decided that for the program to continue and be accessible to all eligible students, financial support needed to be found. The Directors of Virtual Cancer Centre proposed a five year deal, which was approved by UWA. The scholarship was first offered to students in 2004. In 2009 Virtual Medical Centre (VMC), which evolved from Virtual Cancer Centre, and UWA approved the deal for another five years.
The Lund facility research spans a broad area, from basic experimental research to applied research, in order to answer questions related to clinical practice, the health sciences and society.
Increasingly, Lund University's Faculty of Medicine is contributing to developments in healthcare by interacting with society and facilitating industrial application of the latest in research findings.
The Faculty collaborates with the University Hospitals in Lund and Malmö to create an environment with productive communication between basic research and the healthcare system. One of the products of this collaboration is the Biomedical Centre (BMC), a research and education centre in Lund, as well as the newly established Clinical Research Centre (CRC) in Malmö, which are affiliated with the University Hospitals.
What is the Virtual Medical Centre Lund University Scholarship?
The VMC Scholarship enables two fifth year medical students to attend Lund University in Sweden to undertake a four-week attachment in cancer medicine. Not only will they be exposed to a different learning and teaching environment, they will also experience a different healthcare system and partake in the industrial application of research.
What is the purpose of the scholarship?
The aim of this attachment is to foster clinical and cultural exchanges and to help develop Australia's future doctors. The establishment of the exchange program and the support provided by the scholarship further enhances the commitment to cancer education for Western Australian medical students by the Virtual Medical Centre and UWA.
The scholarship helps to ease the financial burden of medical students so they are able to take advantage of such study opportunities as those offered at Lund University.
What does the scholarship provide?
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There are two scholarships available. Successful applicants will have their airfare and accommodation funded by VMC (up to a maximum of $3,000 per student).
The scholarship is available to students in the fourth year of the MBBS course at UWA. Students who are selected undertake the cancer exchange program during their fifth year.
This exchange benefits students with an interest in cancer. It combines their fifth year two week cancer clinical attachment with a two week option in cancer, which would be completed at Lund University in Sweden.
The attachment occurs in the six-week period from 10 May–18 June 2010 and would include the two week mid-semester vacation. Scholarship recipients must write a report and provide a photo of themselves for VMC on their return to Perth.
Who can apply and how?
Each year applicants are asked to write an essay on a chosen oncology topic. Applicants are judged by academic achievement, shortlisted and interviewed by the Selection Committee. The scholarships will not be awarded if there are no candidates of sufficient merit.
Applicants for the scholarship must be:
- A permanent resident or citizen of Australia; and
- A fourth year medical student continuing into fifth year at UWA.
Written applications must be made and be accompanied by:
- A brief essay on the topic listed in the scholarship advertisement;
- No more than 100 words outlining the reasons why the applicant would be a good ambassador for UWA and VMC;
- A Curriculum Vitae; and
- A reference supporting (2).
Applications for the 2010 scholarship competition are now closed.
2010 scholarship competition
Congratulations to Kelly Valentin and Charlotte Connor, the winners of the 2010 scholarship competition.
Past winners
Awardees in 2009
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| Brittany Knezevic | Alison Carter |
Awardees in 2008
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| Peta Varvell | Aleisha Anderson |
Awardees in 2007
Joshua Vogel
Genevieve Gibbons
Awardees in 2006
Kelvin Balakrishnan
Anna West
Awardees in 2005
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| Hari Ramakonnar | Carlo Bellini |
Awardees in 2004
Naomi Fudge
Hayden Wilson
Awardees in 2003
Ruth Blackham
Shih-Ern Yeo
Letters of appreciation
2008 winner Aleisha Anderson wrote to VMC upon her return from Lund:
Our Oncology exchange was a wonderful opportunity to witness Medical practice in a country with a similar level of health care and medical technology to our own. Like Australia, Sweden has a fantastic health care system and it was interesting to compare the similarities and differences between the two. Oncology patients at Lund hospital appear to benefit greatly from the integrated approach the Medical team undertake. We had the chance to be involved in the delivery of numerous treatment modalities, some which are in common use in Perth, others that were less familiar to us.
Furthermore, it was a wonderful way to learn about the Swedish culture, and visit an incredibly beautiful part of the world.
2005 winner Carlo Bellini wrote to VMC upon his return from Lund:
I write to formally thank you and the Virtual Medical Centre for my scholarship to Sweden to participate in the Lund Cancer Exchange.
The experience was truly incredible. I met so many wonderful people – both professionally and personally including medical colleagues, patients, and day to day Swedes who made the exchange so memorable. The benefit in studying in another health care system quite different to Australia's, and being able to work with some leading cancer researchers was an experience second to none.
I cannot recommend the scholarship strongly enough to any student considering applying. I am more than happy to promote the exchange on the Virtual Cancer Centre's behalf for future years at your request.
Again, thank you for providing an experience which shall stand out as a true highlight of my medical education.
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