Bond University graduate Imogen Thomson has been named a 2026 Sir James McCusker John Monash Scholar, one of Australia’s most prestigious awards for postgraduate study overseas.
Dr Thomson, an obstetrics and gynaecology registrar at Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney, will use the scholarship to pursue a Master of Science in Global Health Science and Epidemiology at the University of Oxford.
Originally from Perth, Dr Thomson attended Bond University on the Vynka Hohnen Scholarship for Western Australian students, a program designed to give exceptional students from WA the opportunity to study on the east coast.
She completed a Bachelor of Biomedical Science at Bond, receiving the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for maintaining a High Distinction average.
Dr Thomson went on to complete a Master of Philosophy in Public Health and a Doctor of Medicine at the University of Sydney, where she was recognised on the Honour Roll.
Alongside her clinical work in metropolitan and rural communities, Dr Thomson has consulted in healthcare with McKinsey & Company and served on the boards of leading women’s health organisations.
Her scholarship project will focus on fertility care, a sector in which most services in Australia are delivered privately, restricting access for many families.
This is particularly the case for advanced interventions that assist families experiencing recurrent miscarriage or life-limiting genetic conditions.
Dr Thomson hopes to use her Oxford training to improve access to fertility care and ensure more Australian families can get the help they need.
She said the John Monash Scholarship provides a critical step in advancing her career beyond medicine.
“My goal is to lead high-quality, compassionate, and equitable care for Australian families, while contributing to research and policy in women’s health.”
Bond University Vice Chancellor and President Professor Tim Brailsford said Dr Thomson’s journey embodied the transformative potential of Bond’s scholarships.
“Imogen’s story captures the very essence of what our scholarship programs are about – identifying talented young people, often from across the country, and giving them the opportunity to shine on a global stage,” Professor Brailsford said.
“From Perth to the Gold Coast, then Sydney and now Oxford, Imogen is a shining example of how Bond opens doors to opportunities around the world.”
The John Monash Scholarship supports outstanding Australians to study overseas and develop skills to make a lasting contribution to the nation.
Past scholars have gone on to significant careers in fields including medicine, public policy and research.