Demand high for med sci
by Michèle Nardelli
UniSA’s new Bachelor of Medical Science degree is attracting encouraging interest from school leavers. Preferences for the new degree program are high, with several hundred school leavers listing the program in their preferences and strong numbers placing it as their first choice.
The three-year Bachelor of Medical Science, commencing in 2010, will focus on preparing more medical researchers while also giving graduates the option to go on to further study in medicine, physiotherapy and a range of related fields.
UniSA’s School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences program director, Associate Professor Sandra Orgeig, says she believes school leavers understand the real potential of the qualification.
"There is plenty of demand for the skills offered by the new program, at hospitals, university research centres and companies such as those in the Thebarton Bioscience Precinct, and when the new $200 million SA Health and Medical Research Institute comes online there will be even greater opportunities," Prof Orgeig said.
"Our first class will graduate at just the right time to take up some of those important research positions."
The Bachelor of Medical Science curriculum will cover topics such as genetics, immunology, biotechnology, pharmaceutical chemistry, nutrition, anatomy and molecular biology.
In a unique partnership with the Australian National University, students will also have the option to complete some of their program in the ACT, taking advantage of specialist and world-leading expertise at Australia’s highest internationally ranked university.
Pro Vice Chancellor for the Division of Health Prof Allan Evans says the partnership with ANU stems from a significant Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two universities in 2008 which is developing educational benefits for students at both institutions.
"This is an exciting new pro- gram that will help build health research expertise in South Australia," Prof Evans said.
"Our collaboration with ANU to deliver the new Bachelor of Medical Sciences will help to address significant workforce shortages in medical and health care.
"Working together, ANU and UniSA are opening up more opportunities for more students to qualify in these high demand fields."
Students of the new Bachelor of Medical Science will have access to researchers and academics from UniSA’s Sansom Institute for Health Research and ANU’s John Curtin School of Medicine. They will be exposed to research in the areas of population and allied health, as well as pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences aimed at understanding and providing treatments for diseases like cancer, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, asthma and high blood pressure.