Ep 40: How Brenden Got Into Medicine After Four GAMSAT Sittings

Mare Forfa (00:00)
So welcome to this week’s episode of Nurses Doing GAMSAT. I’m very, very excited to be joined by Brenden James—or should I say Dr Brenden James. Welcome to the podcast.

Brenden (00:11)
Thank you. Thanks so much for having me. I’m excited.

Mare Forfa (00:15)
I am just excited because I want to go through your journey, which was—let’s say—I was going to say long and arduous, but it wasn’t really. So instead of me giving an intro, I’d love for our listeners to hear your whole journey and where you end up. Spoiler alert: you’re a doctor, so we know how it ends.

Let’s start pre-GAMSAT. Tell us a little bit about life before—your undergrad, what you were doing, and what you were working as.

Brenden (00:36)
Yeah, it starts a long time ago—probably eight to ten years ago now. I was in undergrad and sat the GAMSAT around third or fourth year. When I first started, I definitely thought I wanted to do medicine. I began in medical sciences, which a lot of people do.

But I ended up switching into Human Biology because I enjoyed anatomy more. Medical sciences is broader, and anatomy was only an elective, so I couldn’t do as much of it as I wanted. I switched degrees so I could focus on anatomy, which I absolutely loved.

That’s when I started sitting the GAMSAT—third or fourth year. Once I had my head around studying and getting decent marks, I felt like I had more time to prepare. It took me quite a while—probably four or five sittings. I didn’t come across you guys until my last sitting. Before that, I was just grinding through Des O’Neill and ACER materials. I was doing okay, but not getting interviews.

Mare Forfa (02:32)
That’s so funny because you call us “past GAMSAT,” but years ago we rebranded to Thank Flip. It’s been so long.

Brenden (02:39)
There you go—it’s been that long. Thank Flip!

Mare Forfa (02:43)
Same thing to me. Sometimes I still answer the phone and say “past GAMSAT”—years later.

Brenden (02:55)
I thought Thank Flip was just for the podcast. I didn’t realise you changed the whole brand.

Mare Forfa (03:07)
We did. At the start, we just made the name on a whim. Later we realised it didn’t reflect what we do—we’re not just about passing the GAMSAT, we’re about getting into medicine.

So you sat it multiple times on your own. Tell me more about wanting to become a doctor—what was driving you?

Brenden (04:03)
Honestly, I came from a different angle than most. A lot of people have a defining moment, like a personal medical experience. For me, it was more of a slow burn.

In high school, I liked biology and science, so I thought maybe I could do medicine. I wasn’t a top student, so during my HSC I thought I might not get the marks. I hedged my bets and applied for paramedicine as well.

But I did get into medical sciences, and from there it just developed. It wasn’t an “aha” moment—just a gradual realisation that I enjoyed it and wanted to pursue it. And now here I am.

Mare Forfa (06:25)
Amazing. But you didn’t go in blind. What happened after your degree? You were working full-time when you joined us.

Brenden (06:38)
Yeah, during undergrad I worked for Apple, doing repairs—kind of like a Genius Bar role. They’re actually an amazing employer.

Later, after a few GAMSAT attempts without success, I became a phlebotomist. That came from wanting to strengthen my portfolio for universities like Notre Dame and Wollongong.

My partner suggested it, I applied, and within a few days I was training. It ended up being a great experience—really useful for medicine too.

Mare Forfa (09:02)
I tell so many people to do phlebotomy—it’s such a valuable skill.

Brenden (09:14)
It really is. Venepuncture becomes second nature. And my workplace was very supportive—I could study during quiet shifts, which made a huge difference.

Mare Forfa (10:41)
So what changed for you when you finally got in?

Brenden (10:41)
There wasn’t one massive change. I joined you guys about six to eight months before my final sitting, which helped with direction and support.

I remember doing badly on a practice exam and emailing you. You called me that same day and got me back on track. That push made a difference.

Also, improving my portfolio through phlebotomy helped. My score only improved slightly—from high 60s to mid 70s—but I think I was always right on the edge and finally tipped over.

Mare Forfa (12:31)
A big question we get is how to study while working full-time. How did you manage your time?

Brenden (12:43)
It was definitely challenging. Living with my parents helped a lot—having meals cooked and less responsibility gave me more study time.

Also, having a supportive job made a big difference. My boss allowed me to work in quieter clinics so I could study.

But doing medicine while working full-time? I honestly don’t know how people do it. Even working one day a week during med school was hard.

Mare Forfa (15:20)
A lot of people struggle to ask for support, even when they have it available.

Brenden (18:05)
Yeah, and I think that’s key. The hardest part of multiple sittings is the constant setbacks. You start wondering when to stop.

I don’t consider myself naturally smart. It takes me time to understand and memorise things. So for me, it was persistence—just keeping at it, trying different approaches, and not giving up.

Support from friends, family, and mentors was huge.

Mare Forfa (21:28)
That really stands out—being open to support.

Brenden (21:31)
Yeah, absolutely.

Mare Forfa (23:14)
So what’s life like now as a doctor?

Brenden (23:20)
It’s pretty amazing, but also challenging. Med school felt hard at the time, but looking back, it feels easier compared to working as a doctor.

There’s a steep learning curve again. My first rotation was geriatrics—it was intense and not really my interest. But then I did emergency in Broken Hill, which I loved. You actually get to apply your knowledge.

Now I’m doing relief shifts and nights, which I surprisingly enjoy. It’s busy, but you can switch off more easily after your shift.

Mare Forfa (31:14)
Looking back, what do you wish you knew earlier?

Brenden (31:25)
Funny enough—don’t avoid physics. I hated it and avoided it completely, and now I want to do radiology, which involves a lot of physics. So that’s a bit ironic.

Mare Forfa (33:02)
What advice would you give someone feeling overwhelmed?

Brenden (33:18)
Lean on your support system. But also step away from study sometimes. GAMSAT can take over your life, and that’s when it becomes overwhelming.

Keep hobbies, exercise, do something you enjoy. And mindfulness meditation has been huge for me—whether it’s calming anxiety or improving focus.

Mare Forfa (38:49)
That ties into what we teach—balance is key.

Brenden (40:47)
Exactly. It’s about quality of study, not just quantity.

Mare Forfa (41:16)
Anything else you’d like to add?

Brenden (41:21)
Not really—just keep it simple. Stay consistent, take care of yourself, and keep going.

Mare Forfa (44:57)
I love that. Thank you so much for sharing your journey.

Brenden (45:02)
Thank you for having me.

Mare Forfa (46:18)
And for everyone listening, don’t forget to subscribe and reach out if you have questions. You’ve been listening to Nurses Doing GAMSAT. Bye for now.