Humans of Rural Medicine
MEET THE TEAM
Derek Mao - Year 4, Bond University
Why rural medicine?
I admire how rural generalists not only function as GPs using a preventive care approach to improve the health of their community, but additionally function as the ‘jack of all trades’ doctor in a challenging hospital environment.
Rural generalism is surely the one of the most exhilarating and rewarding fields of medicine available today.
Jade Chan - Year 3, University of Melbourne
Why rural medicine?
In my second year, I was lucky enough to have a year of placement in a country Victorian town called Wangaratta. That experience really opened my eyes to how fantastic going rural can be - patients knew all of the doctors in the area and many of the nursing and allied health staff, and they would always present to the same hospital when going through a health crisis; this meant that the continuity of care was at a level that is impossible to experience in the city and I found that the doctors there had very fulfilling careers. I also believe that it is extremely important to foster interest in rural medicine for our peers in order to hopefully achieve less of a disparity in health between rural and metro patients in the future.
Harpreet Kaur - Year 4, UNSW
Why rural medicine?
I became interested in rural medicine after attending a John Flynn placement in Medowie in 2019. I was exhilarated by the camaraderie exhibited by the locals and by their willingness to share their fascinating life stories. They were also quick to assimilate me into their culture, whether it was tours of the nearby bays to wine-tasting at the local vineyards. I was also greatly inspired by my attending physician, a dynamic, versatile, bold yet compassionate individual who taught me not only medicine but the virtues of becoming an empathetic doctor. I wish to emulate and return the love shown by Medowie by one day working in an alike rural/remote town.
Helen Jiang - Year 4, University of Western Australia
Why rural medicine?
Rural medicine offers a unique work experience with flexibility and diversity in work conditions from larger country hospitals, to remote clinics, and even in the air through the Royal Flying Doctor Service responsible for acute care across the vast lands of Australia. There is also great access to the beautiful natural sceneries right at your doorstep to wind down and relax at the end of the work week. With rural medicine you can have a great work-life balance!
Leon Latt - Year 2, University of Tasmania
Why rural medicine?
I have lived rurally for much of my life. My father is a GP who has a diverse range from experiences, from working for the Aboriginal Health Service in the scenic Kimeberley to being part of a rescue operation in snowy Tasmania. The area is so diverse, and I am so fortunate to have experienced a small taste of it now, being involved with the rural programs at my university. Rural health needs as much help as it can possibly get - from my experiences, it is such a rewarding and humbling sector to work in, and I hope through these posts you will feel the same!
Emma Chan - University of Queensland
Why rural medicine?
I love the diversity of the day .. one minute you're excising a skin lesion, the next you're stabilising a septic patient in ED! It's extremely exciting and rewarding work, and the friendly tight-knit community makes you feel so at home
Favourite hobbies: long distance running, baking, travelling, photography
ABOUT US
The Rural Working Group are a dedicated committee of students who want to celebrate and share the wonders, challenges and diversity of the rural GP lifestyle with the wider medical community
Being a rural GP is not only fascinating in the variety of cases that come through the door, but also a rewarding challenge that requires top clinical skills and judgement with the limitations of certain resources
We have created this blog as an open space for medical students to share their personal experiences on their rural GP placements/ rotations to shed light on what it encompasses with the hope of encouraging more medical students and professionals to seek out the rewarding pathway towards becoming a rural GP