Adeena Thankakumar - Future Graduate
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2026 AMA Queensland Foundation Medical Student Scholarship recipient and 6th Year JCU medical student.
Growing up in Coober Pedy exposed Adeena to significant health disparities, particularly among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. This shaped her interest in improving access to care in underserved regions. Adeena has a long-term goal to work in resource-limited settings, particularly in the areas of infectious diseases and health policy.
“My motivation to pursue medicine is grounded in a strong commitment to service, equity, and lifelong learning. Medicine offers the opportunity to support individuals at their most vulnerable while engaging in a field that is intellectually rigorous and constantly evolving,” Adeena said.
Born in India, Adeena migrated to Australia with her family when she was a child and is the eldest of four daughters. The family have worked hard since their arrival, but recent circumstances have proven difficult.
“My father, who has no formal education, previously collected recycling cans to support my mother’s studies in Australia. He now works in construction but sustained a knee injury late last year, limiting his ability to provide consistent income.”
Through casual disability support work and tutoring, Adeena has funded her own education and since last year, has also supported her family as much as possible. In her final year of medicine, the cumulative cost of tuition, living expenses, and placement requirements presented a significant financial challenge.
“Both roles will be temporarily interrupted due to my upcoming rural placement in Cooktown, limiting my ability to maintain a consistent income during this period,” she said.
Adding to Adeena’s instability was the loss of approximately $6,000 worth of belongings in January this year, which were either damaged or stolen by house squatters. This included medical textbooks, clothing, personal effects, and funds she had saved for her upcoming rural placement.
“I have experienced ongoing financial hardship, including housing instability, eviction due to rental arrears, and reliance on food relief services such as the ADRA Community Pantry in Townsville and university food pantries,” she said.
As Vice President of the General Practice Student Network at JCU, and with completed research in mesenchymal stem cells and osteoarthritis, Adeena is eager to get back on track with her studies.
“This scholarship will provide essential support for my rural placement in Cooktown, including travel, accommodation, and basic living expenses. It will also allow me to replace necessary study equipment, such as my laptop, and ensure continuity in my academic work.”
Scholarship funds will also help her return to her commitment to underserved regions, by pursuing a Commonwealth supported clinical elective in India.
Read more about our 2026 recipients here.
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