MEDICUS FEBRUARY 2016

U N D G R A D U A T I O N

Proud moment: AMA (WA) President Dr Michael Gannon presents Dr Kimberley Minas with the AMA Gold Medal and bust of Hippocrates.

B ehind the smiling faces of the 82 students who graduated from the University of Notre Dame’s Medical School in December last year lie stories of courage and inspiration, sacrifice and hard work and just plain dogged determination. Alongside cramming in hours of study for her medical degree, new graduate Shiree Treleaven-Hassard also completed a PhD in Psychology in 2013 – all the while raising her two children.

family and friends, and just focused on the next task due without worrying about my other roles,” said Shiree. “When I was at home, I focused on being a mum, and I organised my life so I didn’t have to worry about the kids when I was at Medical School or writing my PhD.” Shiree was in very good company at Notre Dame’s Graduation Ceremony with a number of stellar students among the 2015 cohort. Among them was Grace Morley, who at the age of 15, was one of the youngest people to receive an award

in 2003 within the Order of Australia. Grace was awarded for service through the provision of immediate assistance to victims of the Bali bombings the previous year. Yet another inspiring graduate was Michael Leith. In January 2014, Michael along with a doctor friend, embarked on an epic 920km ocean journey from Sydney to Brisbane on stand-up paddle boards to raise awareness of men’s depression and rising rates of chronic disease.

“I surrounded myself with supportive

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