Kim Vandok

The Dr Lesley Shorne Scholarship was created to commemorate Dr Lesley Shorne who worked tirelessly for the cause of women’s health in South Australia. The scholarship is awarded to a mature aged woman studying medicine at Flinders University.

Kim Vandok received the scholarship in 2014, while enrolled in the graduate entry medicine program. Kim says, “I was thrilled! I was quite surprised but very excited!”

She says the scholarship is “a huge privilege. The financial support and networking opportunities have been invaluable. The field of work that Lesley was involved in is very close to my heart so I feel particularly grateful to be one of the recipients of the scholarship.”

Kim has personally met with Dr Lesley Shorne’s family, who helped to establish the scholarship and continuously work to keep Lesley’s legacy alive.

“In addition to the obvious gratitude that I have shared with them, I want to make sure they know just how much their support means to the recipients of the scholarship, how privileged we all feel to be involved with Lesley’s work and how inspired we are by Lesley’s outstanding contribution to her community.”

Kim previously completed a Bachelor of Health Science, majoring in nutrition, at Flinders University. Next year, Kim is looking forward to undertaking her third year of medicine in a general practice in Kangaroo Island. In her final year, she is hoping to complete a placement in India. “I travelled through central and southern India in the year prior to beginning my degree and volunteered in a community women’s health program for several weeks. I have always aimed to go back with my newly acquired skills and look very much forward to the opportunity to do so.”

Kim has not yet decided on her medical speciality, but she says, “my biggest goal is to be involved with youth and adolescent community health and wellbeing programs, so I may continue with the volunteer work I began as an undergraduate”.