He was awarded a $5000 Faculty of Medicine Scholarship yesterday, to support his honours studies, which will be supervised by Prof Mark Stringer, of the university's anatomy and structural biology department.
Mr Zhang (21), who was born in China but now lives in New Zealand, was "very happy" to gain the support for his "interesting" research.
Prof Don Roberton, the Otago University pro-vice-chancellor, health sciences, yesterday announced a series of awards and scholarships for students in the bachelor of medical science honours programme, which involved a "wonderful" study year and deepened their understanding of research.
Prof Stringer recently led a New Zealand study of nerve damage arising from incorrectly-administered intramuscular injections, which highlighted the importance of anatomical training.
He said Mr Zhang's study, also in association with ACC, would range more broadly, and examine anatomical-based errors in clinical practice, including nerve and bile duct-related damage arising from surgery.
Anatomical training was already emphasised in Otago University medical education, but Mr Zhang's research would help identify areas where future education could be refined, to help avoid specific errors, and to further improve patient treatment, he said.
Other scholarships and awards:
Maurice and Phyllis Paykel Trust Research Award in Medical Sciences, $8000, Dunedin School of Medicine, Emma McKay; Otago School of Medical Sciences, Samuel Hale; Wellington campus, Bijia Shi; Leigh and Warwick Tassell Scholarship, $8000, Otago school, Sarah Masterton; Dr Edward Kerkin Scholarship, $3000, Dunedin school, James Liley; AFJ Mickle Scholarship, $600, Otago school, Samuel Hale; Faculty of Medicine Scholarship, $5000, Dunedin school, Neal Kerr, Laura Rawcliffe, Otago school, Jessica Crampton, Diana Fieldwick, Sarah McFadden, Otago school, Lauren McManus, Young Jun Yoon; Christchurch, Tessa Cowley, Simon Feng; McGee Fellowship, $12,000, Christchurch, William Ha.
