Feature
From Carey to medical school: three OCGs at St Vincent’s Dr Justin Tse Old Carey Grammarian (1990) and current parent
People who work in the field of medicine often have interesting journeys with colleagues throughout university and their careers. The separate paths they take lead to intersections at different points in time, perhaps ending up working at the same hospital, on the same ward, or at the same university. Many Carey students study in the medical field after Year 12, but a significant intersection has joined three Old Carey Grammarians together at the University of Melbourne. In 2019, Caitlin Kennedy (2011) and Nicholas De Vincentis (2012) will graduate from the University as medical doctors (MDs). Serendipitously, both Caitlin and Nicholas have trained at St Vincent’s Hospital Clinical School under my leadership. As Clinical Dean and Associate Professor at St Vincent’s Hospital, I oversee the training of 200 medical students in the MD course. A key quality I have brought to my career in medical education was borne from my experiences at Carey, namely the importance of a studentcentred approach to learning and growth. Medical students are ambitious and high achievers, but at times they do need guidance, mentorship and an informal chat to check that all is okay. Having these personal relationships
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helps medical students to feel supported and know that the school and the academic team are approachable and empathetic to their learning. Both Nick and Caitlin have also taken their experiences at Carey and applied these to their medical training. For Nick, it is the ability to work at a high level to ensure he has the skills and knowledge to be a capable clinician but to combine his love of medicine with a life away from it. As Caitlin reflects on her time at Carey, the school’s emphasis on acquiring and applying the quality of ‘balance’ has helped her navigate the ups and downs
