UQ Medical student and Torres Strait Islander man, T'Kido Titasey continues his journey to improve health outcomes as the recent recipient of the 2023 Australian Medical Association (AMA) Indigenous Medical Scholarship.
Mr Titasey (pictured right receiving his award) followed his passion for healthcare, first as a Registered Nurse, and then starting a medical degree at The University of Queensland (UQ) in 2020.
During that time, Mr Titasey has benefited from UQ’s Indigenous Tutorial Assistance and Retention (ITAR) program, stating that the support he received has been invaluable.
“In regards to the ITAR program, it has been nothing short of perfection. Without it I may not have made it this far,” Mr Titasey said.
Mr Titasey’s reason for pursuing medicine is a personal one and is inspired by his family and community.
“My grandmother had to leave the Torres Strait because she had a heart attack and required a quadruple bypass, and I could see the impact it had of taking someone like her, a notable figure, away from their community,” Mr Titasey said.
The AMA Indigenous Medical Scholarship, valued at $11,000 per annum, aims to increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander doctors in Australia by supporting Indigenous students to complete a medical degree.
Mr Titasey said the Scholarship had alleviated pressures to help him stay focused on study and pursue his career goals, while staying connected with his family, friends, and community.
Like past scholarship winners, Mr Titasey aspires to become a prominent leader in health and medicine by establishing his own healthcare service in the Torres Strait.