A Doctor for the NSW Outback
RAS Foundation Rural Scholar, Sophie Morrison, was five years old the first time she stepped into a hospital. Visiting her Pop, who had recently undergone heart surgery, Sophie knew in an instant what she wanted to be when she grew up, “I am going to be a doctor, so I can fix people’s hearts”. Now, two decades on and Sophie is close to fulfilling her life-long dream.
In the penultimate year of a Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine in the joint medical programs with University of New England and University of Newcastle, Sophie splits her time between studies, full-time hospital placements, leading study group sessions, and tutoring Indigenous medical students at the Oorala Indigenous Centre.
Born and bred surrounded by red dust, Sophie is one of several generations in her family who has grown up in the close-knit community of Broken Hill, a mining town in the NSW Far West region. Neither of her parents studied beyond Year 10, making Sophie the only one in her inner family who has left the so-called Silver City to pursue higher education.
Living in the outback, where kids who attend kindergarten together also graduate from high school together, and where people stop each other at the shops to catch up, gave Sophie an unparalleled sense of belonging and community support. It has equipped her with a different perspective about the practical
implementation of medicine, compared to her university classmates who grew up in big cities. Sophie shared, “I think that rural experience is always in the back of my mind. When I am learning about different treatments, I am always thinking: how would this play out in a rural setting?”.
Although the support of her community has been significant, it is the encouragement of her family that has been pivotal in Sophie’s success. Sophie’s main life pillar and inspiration has always been her extremely hard working mum, Renee. Growing up in a single-parent family, Sophie learned from her mum the meaning of perseverance and dedication. “She instilled in me from a young age a really strong work ethic”.
At the age of fourteen, Sophie got her first job as a waitress at the same restaurant where her Mum was working, and since then she has supported herself by working two-three jobs at a time. Sophie believes it is these very experiences that prepared her to overcome the challenges of studying away from home.
In addition to the financial constraints of a single income, not having a role model was difficult. “When you don’t see people around you who are doing what you dream of doing, it does make you question whether it is possible”,
explains Sophie.
The process of following her dream has had many challenges, not the least of which has been the move to a larger city, where the lifestyle change can be both
shocking and difficult to adapt to. Sophie shared, “Having to move away from your community and your sense of self is really hard. The idea of removing yourself from all those protective factors in your life, to undergo a massive
life change and do something as stressful as university, can be kind of mind boggling”.
Regardless, Sophie is quick to point out that her determination toward her goal has never wavered, and whenever possible, Sophie goes back to see family. “As
I drive back home from the coast, as everything starts to turn a little bit more barren and a little bit redder, I get this overwhelming sense that I am home.”
Looking ahead, Sophie is excited to return to her beloved Broken Hill and to give back to her community by improving their access to specialist healthcare.
