While Moreton Bay medical student Nishant Sharma was always keen to become a doctor, the devastating global pandemic has quickly turbocharged his desire to help people.

Nishant, 21, was among the first cohort of students to recently graduate from USC’s Bachelor of Medical Science and gain direct entry into Griffith University’s Doctor of Medicine program at the Sunshine Coast Health Institute.

Nishant said seeing international healthcare systems struggle to cope with COVID-19 cases, particularly in his birth country of India, had boosted his resolve to help people the world over.

“I moved to Australia from India when I was 13 and I have always wanted to be a doctor and help people,” he said.

“Not many people realised we had a shortage of doctors or nurses or health practitioners until now, so this pandemic is changing our attitudes towards the system and we can see what we still need to do.

“Even now, though I am not a doctor yet, I would like to help in programs around vaccination for India, Australia or any country that needs it. It’s not about becoming a doctor for any particular country but becoming a doctor for everyone.”

Nishant, who earned a University Medal for academic excellence for graduating with a score of 6.91 (from a possible 7), said the USC Medical Science program was an excellent preparatory program for a medical doctorate.

“I am confident I made the right choice studying at USC. I have such a good grounding across all topics and the teachers were all so supportive. Dr Mark Holmes and Dr Ann Parkinson were very helpful and supportive throughout,” he said.

“Having visited hospitals as part of the program, I know that this is something I can do for my entire life and not get bored of it.”

Nishant, of Griffin, says he plans to stay in the Moreton Bay region for the next four years while studying at the Sunshine Coast Health Institute, which is co-located with the Sunshine Coast University Hospital at Birtinya.

“Living in this region is very advantageous. The airport is close, the new USC campus is close and there are a lot of other facilities,” he said.

Fellow Moreton Bay locals, Akhil Singh (North Lakes) and Mark Yakoub (Griffin) were also among the first cohort of graduates from the USC Bachelor of Medical Science, which launched in 2018.

Applications are open to study at USC in Semester 2. For details go to www.usc.edu.au/study