Dashiel Kenny to follow 39-strong cohort to study medicine at JCU Smithfield

A young man with a passion for helping others is about to realise his dream of studying medicine in the Far North.

Former Redlynch State College student Dashiel Kenny has been accepted into the Bachelor of Medicine degree at James Cook University's Smithfield campus. Picture: Brendan Radke

A young man with a passion for helping others is about to realise his dream of studying medicine in his own backyard.

Redlynch State College graduate Dashiel Kenny will begin his first year of a full medical degree at James Cook University, Nguma-bada campus in Smithfield where he will undertake a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery.

“For me, I’m a people person so helping others gives me joy and as a doctor, that’s your job, to help people and serve your community. Also medicine is such an interesting field,” Mr Kenny said.

“I’ve lived in Cairns my whole life so when I found out JCU offered a medicine course in Cairns, I was amazed because it means I can study and be a doctor in my own backyard.”

Mr Kenny follows a 39-strong student cohort of medicine students who commenced their journey in becoming doctors as part of Cairns’ very first end-to-end medical program offered by JCU last year.
It comes as Cairns continues to work towards establishing a tertiary hospital in the region, despite missing out on key Commonwealth Supported Places for medical students this year.

Former Redlynch State College student Dashiel Kenny has been accepted into the Bachelor of Medicine degree at James Cook University's Smithfield campus. He begins the six year course on February 19. Picture: Brendan Radke

The 18-year-old, who graduated with an ATAR score of 99.15, said he was “ecstatic” when he found out he would study at his first choice university alongside his best friend.

“I was overjoyed when I found out. I was on the phone with my mate Akim who, we’ve done everything together, and we’ve always had each other’s back. We were on the phone together when our results came through,” he said.

“I remember him saying he got in just as my results came through. I stood at my table, hand on heart crying with joy. It was awesome. We did everything together at school and it looks like we can continue doing the same at uni.”

1200 prospective JCU students have received a course offer on the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre website.

While Mr Kenny said he wanted to see where the degree would lead him, he said he was particularly interested in the field of rural generalism.

“Obviously, there are lots of placement opportunities at JCU so I’ll use that to kind of see what piques my interest, but as a rural generalism practitioner, you can run your own hospital, and do some surgeries,” he said.

“Having that level of responsibility is both quite stressful and inspiring and it has a meaningful impact on people from our community and more rural communities as well.”

Further offers will also be made between now and Orientation Week in February.

Applicants can check their offers via the QTAC website.

JCU began emailing offers to successful candidates on Monday, January 15.

Originally published as Dashiel Kenny to follow 39-strong cohort to study medicine at JCU Smithfield