Fifteen students who study a Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Medical) at La Trobe’s Bendigo or Wodonga campuses will be guaranteed a place in a Doctor of Medicine program at Shepparton.

Milawa-raised Cathryn Hogarth, who has returned to Australia to be a lecturer for the degree, wished it had been available to her.

“I did my Bachelor of Biomedical Science in Melbourne, because there was no degree in a regional area,” she said.

“I moved to the US, and was there for 11 years.

“This (Murray Darling) program is founded on the same principle as what’s happening in the US, in that there are medical schools being generated to fill physician shortages in rural areas.”

Fellow lecturer James Van Dyke agreed the research shows if aspiring doctors train regionally, they are more likely to work there.

“It adds value to the community because they will be coming up from this area and knowing what kind of health issues there are for people here,” he said.

Associate professor Ronan O’Toole, hailing from Dublin and making the move to Albury from the University of Tasmania, said students who missed out on a place in the Doctor of Medicine could still undertake a Bachelor of Biomedical Science.

“The program is end-to-end; they can start in their first year, finish it, and they go into the medical program at Shepparton,” he said.

Researcher Amy Bryoma, who has lived on the Border for eight years and has worked for the federal government in toxicology, has been appointed senior technical officer.

“My role is looking after the laboratory parts of the course, making sure everything runs smoothly and supporting these guys in their research,” she said.

Keith White continues his three-year role as a lecturer at La Trobe, now focusing on the new degree, which is a first for the area.

“When this new program was announced I was very lucky to have a chance to shape it,” he said.

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“Once students get into the more senior years, they might be interested in doing their own research.”

About five or six students will begin the degree at the Wodonga campus in March, which leads into a further four-year course delivered by Melbourne University in Shepparton for those eligible.

It’s expected in coming years more students will enroll in course, which can be undertaken separate to the program under the new medical network, as awareness grows and schools promote the prerequisite of year 12 chemistry.

In May 2018, following years of campaigning by La Trobe and Charles Sturt universities for a medical school in the regions, the federal government announced $95 million over four years to establish programs involving six universities.

Rooms will be converted into new multi-purpose laboratories as part of $2 million in upgrades at La Trobe Wodonga to accommodate the new Bachelor of Biomedical Science.