Commencing in 2018, the four-year graduate medical program will provide an innovative learning experience for its students, offering a comparative, global approach to learning in authentic clinical and research-active environments.

Macquarie’s bid to launch a medical program has a history that dates back to the early days of the University. In a bold submission to the Australian Universities Commission in 1972, Macquarie argued that ‘more [medical] training of the traditional kind, with its dependence on large teaching hospitals, would not be justified. Macquarie would like to try something fresh: a combination earlier than usual of academic and clinical education [and] an association of medical students with private practice and community health services.’

It is this vision that laid the foundation to Macquarie’s innovative approach to medical education and training, realised almost half a century later with the launch of the Macquarie MD.

“Building on the success and great reputation of our hospital and clinics, we felt the time was right to introduce a graduate medical program at Macquarie, the natural next step in our long-held commitment in advancing health,” said Vice-Chancellor Professor S Bruce Dowton.

The program will provide students with top-quality teaching, early patient contact, top-of-the-range facilities and exceptional clinical education and training. With a small cohort of 60, students will also benefit from small class sizes.

A significant component of the program will be taught at MQ Health, Australia’s first university-led not-for-profit private teaching hospital and academic health sciences centre. In addition, the program will offer core clinical placements and selective opportunities at Royal North Shore Hospital, MindSpot Clinic in Sydney and, bringing a global emphasis to the degree, the Apollo Hospital in Hyderabad, India.

Acknowledging the value of international learning experiences for students has been a core element of the course’s learning design.

“The benefits of global experience for students are broad-ranging, from a greater understanding of cultural differences, to increased engagement with moral and ethical issues,” said Professor Patrick McNeil, Executive Dean Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. “Our aim is to train doctors who are patient and safety-focused, culturally responsive, globally aware and equipped to work within increasingly digital health systems, preparing them to become globally engaged future leaders in healthcare.”