The 1000th student graduated Deakin University’s School of Medicine in Waurn Ponds this week – 11 years since its first enrollment in 2009.
Jordan Walter was in the latest cohort of graduates surpassing the milestone, after working the past two years with the obstetrician who brought her into the world.
During her degree she worked with Glen Barker who, coincidentally, delivered her at University Hospital Geelong, she explained.
“I think it’s made him feel a bit old if anything,” she laughed.
“He saw (me) in those first moments and now he’s seeing (me) begin my career.”
The new doctor wanted to follow in Dr Barker’s footsteps by becoming an obstetrician or paediatrician at Geelong’s proposed women’s and children’s hospital.
“I love women’s health and I’d love to deliver all the babies I could,” she said.
Dr Walter thanked her family for their sacrifices and support that helped her take on the “huge” workload of her medical degree.
“I’m very proud and I definitely know I couldn’t have done it without my family and friends close by,” she said.
She will begin her internship at University Hospital Geelong next year alongside fellow graduate Elizabeth Rosin, who packed up her whole life to study at Deakin.
After being out of university for a decade, she was thrilled to receive an offer to study medicine several years ago.
“I’d dreamt of being a doctor since I was 14 … you can imagine my excitement,” Dr Rosin said this week.
“My husband and I packed up the kids, our dog and house, and headed for Geelong.”
