Medical students Lucinda Colbert and Lisa Altmann take out prestigious ACRRM 2022 President’s Prize

The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2022 ACRRM President’s Prize, Lucinda Colbert and Lisa Altmann. 

Lucinda and Lisa are fourth-year medical students with a passion for rural generalism and improving the healthcare needs for rural and remote communities. 

Selected by President Dr Sarah Chalmers, the ACRRM President’s Prize recognises a medical student’s commitment to commencing a career as a Rural Generalist (RG).  

Dr Chalmers explains the President’s Prize provides aspiring future RGs to network and learn from leaders in the field of rural generalism at the premier rural medical conference in Australia. 

“With so many dedicated rural health professionals in the one place at the same time, this is an excellence opportunity for our future RGs to network some of the best in the world and learn what Fellowship with ACRRM has to offer.” Dr Chalmers says. 

“Lisa and Lucinda were chosen from a collection of high-calibre entrants for their commitment to pursuing a career working in rural and remote communities. I congratulate them and look forward to following their RG journey” Dr Chalmers says.

Currently studying at James Cook University (JCU) in Townsville, Lisa Altmann previously worked both in Australia and overseas as a paediatric and neonatal nurse where she discovered a passion for the fast-paced and diverse challenges of working in remote and resource-limited contexts.   

Since commencing her medical degree, she has also completed her Master’s in public health and tropical medicine (JCU) and a Graduate certificate in humanitarian leadership through Deakin University.  

“I am excitedly progressing through medical school in the hope of becoming a Rural Generalist. I have a keen interest in obstetrics, though my prior background nursing children and neonates continues to draw me to paediatrics and tropical medicine as areas of ongoing interest.” 

“My hope is to combine my recently completed Masters with my Bachelor of Medicine (to be completed in 2024) to meaningfully contribute to the medical workforce in rural and remote Australia and the Torres Strait in a positive, sustainable and impactful way.” 

“The opportunity to attend RMA22 will allow me to further explore the many possibilities of rural medicine, be inspired by current RGs, and network with like-minded students and future colleagues with a hope of becoming more actively involved in this space over the coming years,” She says.  

Like Lisa, Lucinda also has a strong interest in rural and remote health and dreams of becoming a RG.  

As a Gunggari woman from Queensland, currently doing her rural rotation at Lismore Hospital, Lucinda aims to garner as much experience in metropolitan and rural healthcare as possible to expand her knowledge of the health needs of rural communities so she can learn how to best contribute to rural and Indigenous heath in the future. 

“I hope to work towards closing the gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous Australians. As my career progresses and my experience and knowledge grows, I aim to be involved in educating the next generation of doctors, contributing to medical education both within university and clinical practice.” 

“The most memorable placements in medical school are always those where the supervisors cared about you and strived to create a positive learning environment connecting theory and clinical practice.” 

“Teaching and supporting medical students to ensure that not just well-rounded doctors but well-rounded people are entering the workforce will allow continual progression and advancement of medicine and healthcare. I want to contribute to steering away from the old paternalistic approach to medicine and support students in developing their medical knowledge while maintaining work life balance.” 

“I am honoured to be one of the recipients of the 2022 President’s Prize, and so excited to be engaged with the conference and meet more people passionate about rural and Aboriginal health.” She says.  

The ACRRM President’s Prize includes free travel, accommodation and registration to the Rural Medicine Australia 2022 (RMA22) conference in Canberra, and a meeting with ACRRM President and other key College members. Attending RMA allows students to make connections with current RGs, students and junior doctors and be inspired by a career in rural generalism. 

The RMA22 conference is being held at the National Convention Centre Canberra on Ngunnawal Country from Thursday 13 – Saturday 15 October, with the popular conference Welcome Reception taking place on Wednesday 12 October.  

Learn more about RMA22 here.