Associate Professor Suzzanne Owen developed and leads Go Health, Go Griffith— a program that helps senior high school students from a diverse range of social backgrounds to realise their potential as health professionals.
“Our program encourages students with aspirations and ability to apply for university and pursue a career in health and science,” says Professor Owen.
“We mentor and follow them all the way, from high school to their professional degrees and help them believe in themselves to become the best they can be.”
In partnership with Queensland Health, Go Health, Go Griffith also provides community outreach for health awareness, professional development for clinicians and for senior secondary school biology, exercise and health teachers and a student peer mentoring service.
Professor Owen was the recipient of a 2016 Australian Awards for University Teaching for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning.
“My job is finding remarkable young people and growing them towards their chosen careers,” she says.
“Go Health, Go Griffith has been very successful and these young students, many of whom are ‘first-in-family’ to attend university, develop strong professional identity and leadership skills and often contribute to the Go Health, Go Griffith team.”