By Andrew Humphries
More than 120 years after it was first awarded, a Uniting Church scholarship continues to give Ormond College medical students the opportunity to make a difference at a global level.
In 1904, money left in her Will by Isabella Manson for the Presbyterian Church provided for an Ormod College student to undertake medical missionary work for the first time, through the John Manson Scholarship.
In November last year, Ormond College students Justine Solomon and Simone Stenner became the latest recipients of the scholarship, now administered through the Uniting Church.
The scholarship, which honours Isabella’s brother John, allowed Justine and Simone to travel to Indonesia late last year as part of a 10-day medical placement in Tobelo, a remote town on the island province of North Maluku, about 3500km from the capital Jakarta.
“Even people from Indonesia don’t necessarily know where Tobelo is,” Justine says.
“You have to fly to Ternate and then get a boat to the island because there are hardly ever any flights there.
“So, yes, it’s very remote.”
The placement also presented one or two language difficulties for the pair.
“Simone and I don’t speak Indonesian so we had to consider how we could best communicate with people, particularly in a medical context,” Justine says.
“We relied on a lot of non-verbal communication, such as body language and gestures, to ensure mutual understanding and provide the most effective assistance possible.”
For final-year medical student Justine, who hopes to practise as a paediatrician, it was an opportunity to explore how medicine works in a remote area with limited resources.
“Unlike in Australia, where hospitals are well-equipped with modern technology and a wide range of medications, rural Indonesian hospitals operate with ingenuity and resourcefulness,” she says.
“It meant the medical staff were very good at making decisions based more on signs and symptoms, rather than using the sort of diagnostic tools that we take for granted in Australia.
“In Australia, advanced imaging such as CT scans and MRIs are readily available to diagnose conditions like strokes or traumatic injuries.
“However, in rural Indonesia, these resources were either scarce or non-existent, requiring doctors to rely heavily on clinical signs and symptoms for diagnosis and treatment.
“Some of the surgeries being performed were quite complicated, and it was amazing to see how they were able to do so much with essentially so little.
“Despite the absence of some modern equipment, the dedication and skill of the surgical teams ensured that patients received the best possible care.
“The operating theatre experience, and being able to assist in some surgery, was probably the best part of the placement.”
Simone Stenner, right, assists with surgery during her medical placement in Indonesia.
The placement also offered Justine and Simone a hugely rewarding experience on so many levels.
“We were able to explore the different food and wonderful natural beauty of the area,” Justine says.
“From breathtaking beaches to lush forests, the beauty of Indonesia was awe-inspiring.
“The opportunity to travel to nearby islands further enriched our experience, offering a glimpse into the diverse landscapes and cultures that make up the region.
“Everyone was so welcoming, and the kindness and hospitality of the local people made our stay unforgettable.
“Families opened their homes to us, eager to share their traditions and way of life, and their generosity and warmth made us feel not just like visitors, but like part of the community.”
Justine says she and Simone will take a great deal of what they learnt during their placement into their future medical careers.
“It was a profound learning experience,” Justine says.
“The resourcefulness of the healthcare system and the resilience of patients and staff highlighted the challenges of practising medicine in a low-resource setting.
“Beyond medicine, we were deeply moved by the warmth and generosity of the local community, and this experience reinforced the importance of adaptability, cultural understanding, and human connection in our future medical careers.”