John Snow Scholarship

Applications closed Thursday 31 October 2019.

A physician for all

A public health medicine physician is concerned with the health and care of populations. They train in both clinical medicine and public health, opening pathways in to:

the health and care of populations
health promotion
prevention of disease and illness
assessment of a community's health needs
provision of health services to communities and smaller population groups
public health research

The Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine (AFPHM) John Snow Scholarship aims to increase the awareness among medical students to help them identify public health medicine as a medical specialty or potential career path.

The AFPHM, as the principal faculty for public health medicine training in Australasia, looks to provide medical students the opportunities for intellectual and social discourse with AFPHM Fellows and trainees.

Celebrating 10 years

“A decade has passed since I was awarded the inaugural national John Snow Scholarship in 2009 at the World Congress of Internal Medicine 2010. The Scholarship's reflective process consolidated what I'd learned through the project and, as a medical student approaching internship, my mind was opened to the intrinsic exceptional value of public health."

Dr Nancy Merridew, 2019

Eligibility

You must be a medical student currently enrolled in a medical school at an Australian or New Zealand university.

Prize

The prize for each selected regional representative includes:

full registration to attend the RACP Congress in 2020, including the AFPHM President's Dinner
travel assistance up to AUD$400, inclusive of accommodation

All regional representatives and overall winner will receive a certificate in recognition of their achievement.

Selection process

Applications are de-identified and assessed by each AFPHM Regional Committee based on the selection criteria and marking guide.

Each AFPHM Regional Committee will select a regional finalist representative to attend and present at the RACP Congress.

Once the Committee has made their final decision, you will be advised of the outcome of your application.

The selected representatives from each Australian state and territory and New Zealand will be invited to present at the following year's RACP Congress where the presentations will be judged by a panel, and an overall winner selected.

Past recipients

Sabrina Yeh | Vic | 2018 winner
Monash University
Antibiotic Prescribing Patterns in Two Diverse Paediatric Communities

"The John Snow Scholarship is a fantastic experience for medical students. The opportunity to present your work on a national level and meet like-minded individuals passionate about public health is invaluable. I found the chance to meet public health trainees and hear current work in the public health arena to be inspiring. Receiving the scholarship has allowed an unparalleled insight into public health training and the various pathways one can undertake in the future. The John Snow Scholarship has only furthered my passion in public health and its potential as a future career path.

I strongly encourage all students who have an interest in community driven change and equity to apply. Throughout the conference, the Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine were a huge support. They made every effort to engage with the students and made us all feel incredibly included in all Faculty events."

Logan Williams | NZ | 2018 finalist
University of Auckland
The Impacts of Colonisation on the Inequities of Smoking During Pregnancy in Aotearoa

"Representing Aotearoa New Zealand as a John Snow Scholarship finalist was a privilege and invaluable learning experience. As a representative, I was given a platform to voice my concerns about the inequity that exists in smoking during pregnancy in Aotearoa New Zealand, and the role that colonization had in establishing and perpetuating these. It was inspiring to see so many health professionals who are dedicating their careers these critical, yet often overlooked, problems in healthcare. It was great to meet the other John Snow Scholarship finalists, who presented on a variety of topics ranging from infectious disease to mental health. I am confident that they are the leaders that our patients and healthcare systems need."

Siddhanth Sharma | WA | 2018 finalist
University of Notre Dame
Putting feet first: Improving the provision of diabetic foot care at a remote ACCHS

"It was a blessing to have the opportunity to attend and present at the RACP congress as part of the John Snow Scholarship. It proved a great experience to meet like-minded students, interact with public health trainees and further understand the often ambiguous role of a public health physician. The presentation itself was a great opportunity to further develop your public speaking skills and share your ideas in front of a passionate audience. I would encourage all students to apply for the John Snow Scholarship, if only to witness some of the incredible work public health physicians do."