South Sudanese refugee moves to regional Victoria to study medicine

Yong Deng grew up in a Kenyan refugee camp and is determined to become a doctor (Supplied: Shioban Downing)

A Melbourne pharmacist who grew up in a Kenyan refugee camp is a step closer to fulfilling his dream of becoming a doctor. 

Yong Deng, 30, is moving to Shepparton to study medicine after graduating from pharmacy studies at La Trobe University in Bendigo in 2016.

"It's always been a plan to become a doctor, and it looks like it'll become a reality in four years now," he said.

After Mr Deng's father was killed in the Sudanese Civil War in the 1990s, he spent several years in a Kenyan refugee camp before moving to Australia in 2009.

Mr Deng said experiences as a child inspired him to study medicine.

"When I was just at the age of two weeks old, I had whooping cough back in Southern Sudan and it was by chance I survived," he said.

"I had a younger sister who died in 1996 at just six months old, and she passed away from whooping cough. No-one could diagnose her until she was at the point where she couldn't be helped.

"Whereas in Australia, it's hard for someone to die of that condition because we have vaccines and good healthcare.

"But in a third world country, that is really hard. Where we lived there were only two clinics available to 7,000 people.

"Why did I survive from whooping cough and my little sister didn't? I feel like I have a duty to look at what I have."Mr Deng works in Melbourne a pharmacist but will move to Shepparton shortly to start his medical studies.(Supplied)

Love for regional areas

Mr Deng's medical degree is through a partnership between La Trobe University and The University of Melbourne.

Once he finishes studying, he will be required to work in regional Victoria for three years.

"Now I'm an Australian, I would like to be a part of the solution to improving medical access to regional areas," he said.

But having lived in regional Victoria for many years, Mr Deng is excited to back.

"When you get paid for something that you love doing, that's the deal I've got," he said.

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References

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