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Preventing a deadly disease motivates 2018 Rhodes Scholar

Medical student Henry West on the Rhodes to success.

University of Tasmania medical student Henry West is the latest Tasmanian Rhodes Scholar.

Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Kate Warner AM, Governor of Tasmania, announced Henry as the winner at a ceremony at Government House today.

Henry, 24, is currently completing his medical training at the University of Tasmania, where his passion lies in preventing cardiovascular disease.

The Rhodes Scholarship, which recognises leadership, community service and extra-curricular activities as well as academic attainment, will enable him to study a doctoral degree at the University of Oxford.

Henry’s research will focus on developing new imaging tools for examining blood vessels, enabling early detection of the disease.

In 2015, he received a first-class Honours degree in Medical Sciences from the Menzies Institute for Medical Research.

His academic paper examining passive smoking as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease won an award for the most influential research article produced by the Institute that year.

University of Tasmania Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Rathjen congratulated Henry on his achievement.

“To become a Rhodes Scholar is a life-changing experience with the program hosting one of the world’s most prestigious awards,” he said.

Henry’s ongoing dedication and commitment to his studies, and personal achievements, are to be commended and I wish him the very best in his academic career.

Henry’s commitment to helping others goes beyond his academic research: he has spent over six months in Uganda providing public health education and intervention, and volunteers locally with the Heart Foundation and a number of other organisations.

A former competitive cyclist, Henry now runs ultra-marathons in his leisure time, and also enjoys singing and playing the trombone.

Two more Tasmanians, Arts graduate Chloe Meyer and lawyer Aaron Moss, have been chosen as nominees for the Australia-at-large Rhodes Scholarship Round in Canberra later this month. They will compete with candidates from other Australian states and territories for three further scholarship places.

About the Rhodes Scholarship

Established in 1903, the Rhodes is the oldest and perhaps the most prestigious international scholarship program in the world, and aims to nurture public-spirited leaders for the future.

The Rhodes Scholarships are open each year to students from all disciplines.

These are postgraduate awards supporting outstanding all-round students to study at the University of Oxford.

Each year, there are nine Scholarships available in Australia – one offered by each state and three in the Australia-at-large round.

Successful candidates are chosen on the basis of exceptional intellectual achievement, leadership, extra-curricular activities and commitment to service.