One-to-one support
The best way to get real insights into the program? Talk to those living it!
Join a 1-on-1 Zoom with an Enrollment team member or a current UQ-Ochsner medical student.
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Speak with the Enrollment team
Availability: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 9am to 4pm (US/Central Time)
Speak with a UQ-Ochsner medical student
Availability: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5pm to 7pm (US/Central Time)
Want to chat with a specific Student Ambassador? List up to five names as per their profiles when booking in case your first choice is unavailable. Our students' schedules can be fluid, but we’ll do our best to accommodate your request.
Chat with UQ Ochsner medical student
Meet our student ambassadors
Meet our student ambassadors—they’re ready to chat and answer your questions! Check out their profiles below to find someone who shares your background, whether it’s your hometown or university, and hear their journey to medical school.
Year of study: 3
From: Lafayette, CA
Where did you do your undergraduate degree: University of Notre Dame (go Irish!)
Tell us about your journey to medical school:
I have always been interested in the intersection of health and policy, especially in the context of poverty, but for a long time I wasn’t sure if I wanted to approach health equity issues from a more clinical perspective or policy-based perspective. At Notre Dame, I completed an honors thesis for poverty studies that allowed me to explore both, and I realized that pursuing a career in medicine would allow me to continue to explore both areas of interest.
What do you like most about the program?
I’ve loved having the opportunity to explore two different health systems— we are uniquely exposed to both the American and Australian health and medical education systems, and we are able to draw upon the expertise of Australian healthcare! I learned so much from my time in Australia, and was able to get involved in health policy while living there which was really interesting because it was so different to what I was used to here in the states! There’s lots of opportunity to learn from the things that Australia does differently, and bring that back to the states with us.
What advice would you give students interested in the program?
Feel free to chat to previous students—we’re more than happy to share about our experiences, and help you discover if this could be a good fit for you!
Year of study: 3
From: Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Where did you do your undergraduate degree: University of California San Diego
Tell us about your journey to medical school:
I never thought I would pursue medical school in undergrad, so I took a bit of a roundabout journey. In fact, I didn't believe I was ambitious or passionate enough about medicine to become a doctor. It was only after I trained as an EMT and worked as a medical assistant that I discovered that desire to pursue a greater scope of practice. Purely by happenstance and word of mouth, I discovered the UQ-Ochsner program and it seemed like a door to a new and exciting future had opened.
What do you like most about the program?
The most unique and exciting thing about this program is being able to experience different health systems and perspectives on healthcare. I never thought I would be able to travel to Australia and had never really considered how other countries manage the health and wellbeing of their population. I value the ways in which this program has broadened my understanding of global health and cultural differences.
What advice would you give students interested in the program?
Be prepared to be outside your comfort zone, but seize this opportunity if becoming a physician is truly what you want. It's a great opportunity for personal growth and you'll meet amazing people in a truly collaborative environment. You'll be able to find support in your classmates, upperclassmen, and mentors. The UQ-Ochsner program has a strong reputation and successful residents, which ensures a great match rate in many different specialties.
Year of study: 3
From: Savannah, GA
Where did you do your undergraduate degree: Mercer University
Tell us about your journey to medical school:
I graduated from Mercer University with a BS in Neuroscience and minor in Business Administration. I was feeling burnt out by the time I finished my degree and had a desire to see what the world has to offer outside of Southern Georgia. I was working on applying for US med schools when I found out about this program. Australia was definitely a bucket list item for me, and I was already in love with New Orleans. The program seemed too good to be true!
What do you like most about the program?
I really appreciate that the program makes it possible to join into Australian culture and see how their healthcare model takes care of their population. It has been a wonderful privilege to share perspectives through yarning with Australian classmates to develop as both a clinician and a global citizen.
What advice would you give students interested in the program?
It is hard to move to the other side of the world! Be prepared for struggles, but know that you are standing at the beginning of something truly amazing. There are so many people and resources within UQ and Ochsner that want to answer your questions and see you succeed!
Year of study: 3
From: Burlingame, CA
Where did you do your undergraduate degree: University of California Los Angeles
Tell us about your journey to medical school:
I graduated with a B.A. in English from UCLA, then went on to do a M.S. in Biomedical Sciences at Regis University in Denver. After that, I took several gap years and worked in a variety of roles at an OBGYN private practice, and then moved on to be a Clinical Research Coordinator in oncology and women's health. I actually had heard about the UQ-Ochsner program very early in my pursuit of medical school, and ultimately applied after a former grad school professor put me in contact with a Regis alumni and UQ-Ochsner graduate.
What do you like most about the program?
From the moment you receive your acceptance, you have a built in community. UQ-Ochsner does a great job of connecting you with your classmates before the move, but beyond that, in Australia, there is a real sense of camaraderie and family within the cohort. The feeling of community and the support you get from that community really got me through the stressful times and made such a big difference in the process of studying for and taking Step 1.
What advice would you give students interested in the program?
Do the thing that feels hard, because those are the experiences you'll probably get the most out of. Moving to Australia and leaving your home and your family may seem daunting, but it just might end up being the best decision of your life.
Year: 3
From:
Where did you do your undergraduate degree?
Year: 3
From: Houston, TX
Where did you do your undergraduate degree? University of Houston
Tell us about your journey to medical school:
I majored in biomedical sciences at the Univesity of Houston and during my senior year I worked as a scribe and it really solidified my desire to go to medical school. After undergrad, I worked in research at Baylor/TCH in neonatology and as I was applying to medical schools I heard about the UQ-Ochsner program from a friend. Having spent my childhood outside the US, I was very excited about the idea of another international experience, and it was an easy decision to apply.
What do you like most about the program?
I think what I like most about the program is the community that we build going through medical school. Moving to another country away from family and friends really allows us to bond as we go through the first two years of medical school and forms very close friendhips. We also get to learn about and explore two different healthcare systems. While we get an initial idea our first two years through placements, we still learn about and compare the health systems in our third year as we learn differences in management between the US and Australia. It is a very unique experience!
What advice would you give students interested in the program?
The idea of moving to a brand new country and learning medicine can be very scary but it is a very rewarding experience. You'll get to meet people from all over the world and form life-long frienships while exploring the challenges of studying medicine together. At the end of the day, you will be a much better doctor for it and it will definitely be worth it.
Year of study: 3
From: Tucson, AZ
Where did you do your undergraduate degree: University of Arizona
Tell us about your journey to medical school:
I studied psychology in undergrad but becoming a doctor was always in the back of my mind. Various experiences in undergrad really solidified my decision to pursue medicine and while applying to US med schools, I stumbled upon UQ-Ochsner. I hadn’t been able to study abroad and always wanted to travel to Australia, so I was sold on the program pretty quickly. I took a gap year & then was on my way to Aus!
What do you like most about the program?
This program is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Getting to undergo half of my medical education in Australia and being immersed in a different culture & environment—one that felt new and exciting but also similar to home in many ways—has been one of the best experiences of my life so far. The people I’ve met, the places I’ve been, and the things I’ve learned in Australia and now here in New Orleans are all shaping me into the type of doctor that I could only dream of becoming.
What advice would you give students interested in the program?
Take the leap & don’t look back!! It’s definitely scary to think about moving across the world while also starting medical school but if you are motivated and have the drive & ambition, it’ll be so worth it. You’ll get to have the time of your life with like-minded people who’ll become some of your best friends and experience and learn things that will make you that much better of a doctor. It’ll all be worth it in the end & you’ll have amazing stories to tell.
Year of study: 3
From: Los Angeles, CA
Where did you do your undergraduate degree: University of California Davis
Tell us about your journey to medical school:
I've wanted to be a doctor since childhood—my cousins and I even dreamed up a future where we'd open our own hospital. After earning my degree from UC Davis, I completed a master's at the University of Southern California and worked in cancer research before starting medical school. Having spent over a decade living abroad when I was younger, I was eager for another international experience, so when I discovered this program, it was an easy decision.
What do you like most about the program?
I love how unique this program is! When else would you get the chance to live in Australia for two years while meeting incredible people from all over the world? Plus, the opportunity to start placements in second year is rare in medical school. It provides invaluable hands-on experience before transitioning to third year in New Orleans, helping me feel more comfortable in clinical settings (and as they say—practice makes perfect).
What advice would you give students interested in the program?
The path to medical school—and the journey beyond—is full of uncertainty. But that’s exactly why it’s worth taking a leap of faith. Choosing to study in Australia isn’t just about earning a degree; it’s about embracing new experiences, immersing yourself in a different healthcare system, and building lifelong friendships with people from all over the world. Stepping outside your comfort zone can be daunting, but it’s often the most rewarding decisions that shape us the most. So why not take the adventure and head down under for a bit?
Year of study: 3
From: Boston, MA
Where did you do your undergraduate degree: College of the Holy Cross
Tell us about your journey to medical school:
I was a Pre-Med Sociology major choosing between med and law school and ultimately decided medicine offered the fulfillment and lifestyle I was looking for in my career. I took a gap year during the pandemic to work in a COVID research lab, and have the opportunity to study abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina and León, Spain. I wanted to live abroad again, and this program allowed me the opportunity to do that while working towards my MD.
What do you like most about the program?
Combining the freedom, single payer medicine perspective and opportunity of living in Australia with high quality clinical education when you get to New Orleans.
What advice would you give students interested in the program?
You've worked incredibly hard to get to this point and you need to give yourself credit for that. There'll always be another step to go or someone else who appears more put together/more successful than you, but focus too much on that and you'll miss that you've worked for years to be "just" a med student. Wherever you end up studying medicine, or even if you choose another path entirely, be kind to yourself on your off-days and celebrate your wins.