Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine

Students Experiences

Bond Medical Program - In-Jung Lee

Profile courtesy of The Medical Link

A qualified optometrist, skilled tennis player, previous recipient of a Queensland Art Gallery Scholarship, current recipient of a $2,000 research grant from the Royal Australian College of Pathology and current Bond MBBS student, In-Jung Lee has the world at his feet.

Nicknamed IJ by his school friends, IJ has set his sights on becoming an Ophthalmologist.  IJ completed a Bachelor of Science (Physiology) at UQ and an Optometry degree from QUT.  During his time as an optometry student he met Dr Peter Stewart.  Dr Peter Stewart is the Director of Surgery at Laser Sight, Queensland.  The pioneer of no-stitch cataract surgery in Australia, Dr Stewart is dedicated to excellence in the training and education of Eye Surgeons and Eye Care Practitioners. 

Upon meeting IJ as a student, Dr Stewart recognised IJ’s potential and passion and proceeded to offer him a job, saying that IJ “stood out from a usual parade of casual students”.  In 2003 IJ accepted the job with Dr Stewart and for two years travelled with him to Hervey Bay to treat patients whilst working full-time as an optometrist in the Sunshine Coast. 

In 2005 IJ was accepted into the inaugural cohort of Australia’s first private medical program (MBBS) at Bond University.  When making his decision, IJ was keen to consolidate his basic science knowledge which he believes to be an integral part of being a medical professional.   This was reinforced when IJ topped the grade at the end of the first year.

“With Bond’s fast tracking I was able to complete the full Bond Medical Program in only 7 months more than if I had have only enrolled in a postgraduate medical program.”

From September I will be largely located in clinical settings for the rest of the program at the Gold Coast Hospital, Tweed Hospital and Robina hospitals.  I expect to be mainly based at the Gold Coast Hospital due to a recently awarded research scholarship.” 

In addition to his Bond studies, IJ is also a keen researcher and has partnered with Professor Gordon Wright, Professor of Pathology, Gold Coast Hospital and Bond University to work on a one year project for which they have received a $2,000 grant from the Royal Australian College of Pathology.

IJ still remains in regular contact with Dr Stewart and will no doubt seek his advice when making his application to The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists when he graduates in December 2009.