A 20-year-old former high school dux is celebrating his decision to study biomedical science at the University of the Sunshine Coast to pursue a career in medicine.
Kyal Foster, of Peregian Springs, says hard work got him across the line – and across the recent graduation ceremony stage – to earn a Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Accelerated) and a University Medal for a perfect grade point average of 7 out of 7.
Sharing his success from the audience were his parents and sister, along with his grandparents via livestream in the United Kingdom.
Kyal made the most of studying the degree in just two years while maintaining his Sunshine Coast lifestyle with family and friends and working two part-time jobs including refereeing at state and local levels.
“I love being involved in my community, so studying on the Sunshine Coast was the only thing on my mind after school – not going to Brisbane or interstate,” he says.
“As a member of the Football Queensland Referee Academy, I referee senior men's and women's National Premier League (NPL) matches every week on the Coast and in Brisbane.
“It can be a tough job but there’s great satisfaction and socialising too.”
An aspiring doctor from an early age, Kyal was motivated to study just as hard at St Andrew’s Anglican College after his family moved here from the UK when he was 13.
“My main goal during high school was to get a good enough ATAR to get into the Bachelor of Medical Science at UniSC, which offers direct entry into the Doctor of Medicine at Griffith University on the Sunshine Coast University Hospital campus.
“My other option was UniSC’s Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Accelerated) as this would prepare me for medicine while I also prepared for the GAMSAT (medical entrance exam for non-direct entry students) and medical interviews.”
He was named college dux in 2023 with an outstanding ATAR of 99.70, but...
“It was just 0.05 short of an offer for direct entry to medical science,” he says.
“So I accepted a place in the accelerated program and didn’t look back. This degree was hands-down the most challenging and rewarding experience of my life.”
Highlights included a course in human anatomy and a Special Research Project he completed over his first summer with biomedical science academic Victoria Hinkley.
“It was exciting to get a taste of life as a scientific researcher,” he says.
“The team was trying to determine the mechanisms behind pre-term babies losing fluid from their blood circulation.
“My project centred around cave-like structures in the capillary called caveolae, which could be one of the ways that fluid leaks out. These structures are formed with the help of a protein called caveolin.
“I was responsible for analysing microscopy images from a piglet model to see if there were any differences in caveolae density and caveolin expression between pre-term and full-term animals.”
Proud to be the first person in his family to attend university and grateful for a Thompson Excellence Scholarship to help with his studies, Kyal felt happiness and relief after completing the degree.
“My mindset has always been: ‘Time will pass regardless of how hard you work or how many hours you put in, so you may as well make the most of your time to achieve something special.’”
However, he recognises the extent of sacrifices made in the pursuit of perfection, and will enjoy a break and travel before the next Doctor of Medicine program opens in 2027.
“My degree has opened up a number of opportunities. If medicine doesn’t go to plan, I could aim for an Honours degree followed by a PhD to step into a research or teaching position.
“Alternatively, I could apply for an entry-level job in a lab as a biomedical scientist or clinical embryologist.”
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