Bright minds to fulfill potential in US scholarship

The scholarships were awarded to Dr Stephen Bacchi, Joshua Adam Belperio and Dr Victoria Cox, who will each head to the United States as part of the program.

“I congratulate Stephen, Joshua and Victoria for being awarded prestigious Fulbright Scholarships,” said University of Adelaide Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Peter Høj.

“Fulbright scholarships foster leadership, learning, and empathy between cultures, and are an opportunity to bring back knowledge, networks and experience to Australia.

“I wish them the greatest success as they pursue further research and studies which will help them excel in their chosen fields.”

Dr Bacchi is a neurology registrar with interests in research, clinical practice, medical education, healthcare systems and machine learning. He completed his medical degree in 2017 and his PhD in 2022, both at the University of Adelaide, and is currently a Senior Lecturer at Flinders University.

Through his Fulbright scholarship, Dr Bacchi will develop the role of artificial intelligence and portable magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of acute unconsciousness. Unconsciousness, including new-onset coma, can herald a number of disabling or life-threatening illnesses. It is hoped that this line of work will improve outcomes for vulnerable patients in future.

Joshua Belperio is a composer, musical theatre writer and cabaret artist, and a graduate of the Elder Conservatorium of Music, where they completed a Bachelor of Music Composition.

Through music and theatre, Joshua is passionate voice within the queer community, best known for their viral protest songs for queer rights.

Joshua’s Fulbright Scholarship will see them contribute to relationship building between Australia’s burgeoning original musical theatre scene and the well-established one of New York. They will study at the prestigious Graduate Musical Theater Writing Program at Tisch School of the Arts, New York University.

“My aim is to study the art and craft of storytelling through song in the American book musical tradition. I will build collaborative relationships with peers and workshop material under the guidance of masters of the form,” Joshua says.

Dr Victoria Cox is a graduate of the University of Adelaide’s bachelors of Medicine, Surgery and Medical Science degrees, and is a PhD research student at the Menzies School of Health Research and a medical doctor at Royal Darwin Hospital.

She is a Principal Investigator working on a collaborative project to estimate the prevalence and impact of scabies and mass-drug administration treatment programs in remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory, and has championed public health skin reform in northern Australia.

Through her Fulbright scholarship, Dr Cox will work with Professor Esther Freeman at Harvard University in Boston; developing a roadmap to improve the global provision of skin health services as part of the global access to dermatology project.

For more information on the 2024 Fulbright Scholars, see the website.