Second-year Macquarie MD student Zachary Thornton will fly to the UK in November to visit the Royal College of Surgeons and the University of Cambridge as the winner of the 2025 International Anatomy Immersion Award.

In addition to travel and accommodation, the award also earns Zac a place in a three-week preclinical anatomy course at the Human Anatomy Centre in the Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience at Cambridge.

The Australian Institute of CPD Standards and medical insurer Miga present the International Anatomy Immersion Award to one outstanding Australian medical student each year with the aim of providing global perspective, academic inspiration and the opportunity to share insights with peers and contribute to the future of healthcare in Australia.

“I’m really honoured to be able to further my anatomy studies through this experience,” says Zac. “Having the chance to spend time at Cambridge is amazing. It’s where some of the greatest names in the history of science studied and worked: Isaac Newton, Stephen Hawking and Charles Darwin, to name just a few.”

Zac has taken a particular interest in anatomy since his introduction to it as an undergraduate student in the Bachelor of Clinical Sciences program at Macquarie.

“I find all of anatomy fascinating,” he says, “but I'm particularly interested in the major organ systems in the thorax and abdomen, and in the brain and neuroanatomy.”

Dr Mirjana Strkalj, Discipline Leader in Anatomy at the Macquarie Medical School, says she is looking forward to Zac being able to share insights from his Cambridge experience with others at Macquarie.

“I’ve known Zac for five years, since he began his anatomy studies as an undergraduate student, and I was very happy to be referee for his application for the award,” says Dr Strkalj.

“Anatomy is not an easy subject. It can be a bit scary for some students – they feel as if they have to learn the phone book!” she says. “Not only is Zac a very good student and future leader, but he is also very aware of his fellow students and their collective learning experience – if another student needs help, then he’ll step up, which is fantastic.”

“I am confident Zac will represent the Macquarie MD program and Macquarie University with excellence and pride, and he’ll be a great ambassador for the Award.”