AFTER 10 years of study and thousands of kilometres travelled across the region for work experience, new medical graduate Timra Bowerman is happy to finally settle down into a steady job.
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The Marian College graduate was born and raised in Goulburn, before heading off to Wollongong University to complete degrees in Biotechnology and Medicine. She has recently accepted a two-year contract at the Wagga Base Hospital.
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing for the young doctor. In 2003, while working on a PHD in asthma research at Newcastle University, Ms Bowerman had her life threatened by an aneurysm the size of a golf ball, located just behind her left eye.
It was a dark time for the family, and parents Cheryl and Robert Bowerman wondered if their daughter would be able to see again.
Ms Bowerman remained defiant, and said that she was determined to get her sight back.
“The doctor said that I’d lost my eyesight and that I’d just have to get over it. But I’m pretty defiant and I said I’d get it back. And I did,” she said.
After two operations and six months recuperation at home, her sight gradually returned to normal.
But the life-threatening ordeal forced Ms Bowerman to rethink her career goals, and inspired her to pursue a lifelong goal of working as a doctor.
“I’d always wanted to do medicine, but I thought that I didn’t have the marks. But life’s too short to be doing something you’re not totally enjoying,” she said.
Throughout the four-year course, Ms Bowerman worked in rural hospitals across the region, including at Goulburn, Nowra, Bowral, and Griffith for her oneyear internship. Elective units also saw her travel to work in hospitals in Darwin and Samoa.
Rural and regional areas have been her focus, and her work around the region has been particularly important in light of the shortage of medical professionals in regional centres.
“I’ve always wanted to work rurally,” she said.
“It’s one of the reasons I got into medicine. It’s just because I’ve grown up in Goulburn. I felt that I wanted to work in regional areas, because of the skills shortages and everything. I think they’re normally closer, nicer communities.”
Starting her first week at Wagga Base Hospital this week, Ms Bowerman can look forward to the rewards of 10 years of challenging study.
And winning a place on the Dean’s merit list for high academic achievement at her graduation ceremony last month was further recognition of her hard work. Proud Mum Cheryl Bowerman said that her daughter’s graduation last month was a great occasion for the family.
“She’s done very well. We’re very proud of her,” Mrs Bowerman said.
