Walter Ikealumba Receives Student Research Award 

Walter Ikealumba, third-year medical student at Oceania University of Medicine (OUM), was the first recipient of the SGIN Student Research Award at OUM’s Student Conference in Brisbane, 6-8 May 2022.

Walter’s winning project was titled “The Effect of Education and Other Socioeconomic Factors on Smoking Status in Western Australia.” Completing a research project and publishing its associated manuscript are graduation requirements for OUM students.

St. George Institute for Neurosciences (SGIN), represented by Ali Ghahreman, MBChB, BHB, FRACS, supported the University’s student research program by awarding OUM a $1,000 gift “for a hard-working and dedicated student,” says Associate Professor Ghahreman.

“Student researchers can be understandably nervous at the onset of their project, but generous gifts such as this year’s SGIN award can serve as the encouragement young medical practitioners need to continue nurturing their scientific curiosity throughout their careers. The University offers its heartfelt appreciation to Associate Professor Ghahreman and the Institute for recognizing the value of supporting student research,” says Professor Hugh Bartholomeusz, OAM RFD MBBS FRACS, OUM Vice Chancellor.

SGIN is a center for neurological research with a focus on surgical treatment of spinal conditions, quality-of-life assessment following spine surgery, and neurologic recovery following the treatment of spinal conditions. It is based in New South Wales, Australia.

OUM’s Annual Student Conference and Graduation Ceremony, the first since the onset of the pandemic, was attended by students from throughout Australia. The opportunity to network with the University’s faculty, staff, and leadership, together with meeting their fellow classmates in person, is invaluable for students completing OUM’s distance learning curriculum.

(August 2022)