Dr Atomic Leow graduated from Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy in 2015, at the age of 66!
Overall, although mature age medical students may face additional life questions, such as when to have kids, or struggle to find time with their long-term partner, they are an invaluable part of medical school, and as far as medical school entry requirements go, age shouldn't be an issue.
The Youngest Doctor in the World: Balamurali Ambati
Dr. Balamurali Ambati is a well-known ophthalmologist who made history by becoming the youngest doctor in the world at the age of 17.
You become a junior doctor immediately after graduating from medical school, with people generally qualifying between the ages of 23 and 27. There is in fact no upper limit on how old a junior doctor can be.
A Note for Medical Students
Apart from the top 5 specialties mentioned above, Interventional Radiology, Radiation Oncology, Vascular Surgery, General Surgery and Med/Peds are among the most difficult domains to become a doctor.
With the exception of Monash, this degree will take 4 years to complete. With a 3-year undergraduate degree, this would amount to 7 years in total as a minimum until you graduate. If you add in a year for internship/registration, and this amounts to 8 years until you are a registered doctor in Australia.
Dr. Iqbal Al Assaad completed her medical degree at the age of 20, which acknowledged her to be one of the youngest doctors in the world.
2023 also saw the departure of mainstay Karen Hollins (Jan Pearson) after fourteen years.
100-year-old Howard Tucker, the 'world's oldest practicing doctor' reveals the secrets of enjoying a long, happy life.
The "900" discrepancy
The discrepancy was finally addressed in the short story Doctor Who and the Time War released in 2020, which explained that in the Last Great Time War the Doctor was aged and de-aged multiple times. Eventually "feeling around one thousand" by the end of the War, he rounded his age down to 900.
In summary, you are more than capable of being accepted into medical school and enjoying a long career as a clinician. While certain things may be more challenging, your organic desire to pursue life as a doctor will act as the foundation to your success.
The cost of a medical degree in Australia can vary widely between universities and degree types. On average, domestic students can expect to pay between $10,000 to $40,000 per year for their degree. International students may pay significantly higher fees, with some programmes costing up to $80,000 per year.
The average age of a commencing medical student is now 22. 1 The shift to graduate-entry medical schools means many students complete an undergraduate degree (at least 3 years) before commencing medicine.
With 6-7 years of total residency required, neurological surgery residencies are among the longest residencies. The complexity and sensitivity of neurological surgery demands extensive training for mastery, and the amount and structure of PGY varies between residency programs.
Dr. Shaun Murphy, MD is the titular main protagonist of ABC's medical drama, The Good Doctor. He is a 29-year-old surgeon who has high-functioning autism.
The first Doctor lived to around 450 before dying of apparent old age. The 11th Doctor has spent around 300 years in his current body, the longest since the first. Most classic Doctors had 1 to 2 centuries each.
Comparison of doctor salary in Australia vs globally
According to Medscape's 2022 Global Compensation Report, the average annual salary for doctors in Australia is USD 199,000, which is higher than the global average of USD 142,000.
The standard of living is high
Our quality health system and job opportunities make Australia a good place for doctors to work and live. Being a doctor in Australia is a respected profession. You are an important part of the community. You are able to earn a high salary and enjoy excellent job conditions.
No matter which course of study or entry method (undergraduate or postgraduate entry to medicine), if you graduate with a Doctor of Medicine or an MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery), you will have the same recognised qualifications as any other doctor graduating in Australia.