The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) 2023 Distinguished Service Award recipient Dr Marc Heyning is recognised for outstanding advocacy and medical services in his community in the Northern Rivers of New South Wales.
Dr Heyning has provided Rural Generalist (RG) obstetric, emergency, and inpatient medical services to the Northern Rivers community for more than 35 years. For much of that time, he worked in Mullumbimby and District Community Hospital until it was closed in 2016 and he moved to the newly built Byron Central Hospital where he continues to provide obstetric and medical in-patient coverage as well as teaching medical and midwifery staff.
As well as being proud to be training the next generation of Rural Generalists, Dr Heyning sits on several committees, including the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
For Dr Heyning, continuity of care and working within his community provides a fulfilling career.
“Working in community – that’s why we do what we do. We are part of the community, we know four generations of families, and when a family member comes in requiring care, we often know what the issue is, based on the context of the family.
“I stopped counting the number of babies I’ve delivered when I reached 1000, and that was many years ago. "I am now delivering the next generation of families.
“It’s so rewarding watching mothers have their babies, and then seeing those babies grow up.
“It’s equally rewarding watching registrars become the next generation of RG obstetricians.
“They get limited support in the tertiary education environment to work in independent practices, and when they come for placement, I provide them with mentoring to gain confidence, gradually learn, and then develop the skills to support their communities in primary care, and maybe even obstetrics.”
On receiving the ACRRM Distinguished Service award, Dr Heyning says it’s recognition he is proud of.
“Being a Rural Generalist is one of the hardest roles there is, but it is also the most rewarding.
“We get to provide continuity of care and get to know the people and communities where we live and work.
“That’s why we do it; to be a valued part of community."
ENDS
Dr Heyning has provided Rural Generalist (RG) obstetric, emergency, and inpatient medical services to the Northern Rivers community for more than 35 years. For much of that time, he worked in Mullumbimby and District Community Hospital until it was closed in 2016 and he moved to the newly built Byron Central Hospital where he continues to provide obstetric and medical in-patient coverage as well as teaching medical and midwifery staff.
As well as being proud to be training the next generation of Rural Generalists, Dr Heyning sits on several committees, including the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
For Dr Heyning, continuity of care and working within his community provides a fulfilling career.
“Working in community – that’s why we do what we do. We are part of the community, we know four generations of families, and when a family member comes in requiring care, we often know what the issue is, based on the context of the family.
“I stopped counting the number of babies I’ve delivered when I reached 1000, and that was many years ago. "I am now delivering the next generation of families.
“It’s so rewarding watching mothers have their babies, and then seeing those babies grow up.
“It’s equally rewarding watching registrars become the next generation of RG obstetricians.
“They get limited support in the tertiary education environment to work in independent practices, and when they come for placement, I provide them with mentoring to gain confidence, gradually learn, and then develop the skills to support their communities in primary care, and maybe even obstetrics.”
On receiving the ACRRM Distinguished Service award, Dr Heyning says it’s recognition he is proud of.
“Being a Rural Generalist is one of the hardest roles there is, but it is also the most rewarding.
“We get to provide continuity of care and get to know the people and communities where we live and work.
“That’s why we do it; to be a valued part of community."
ENDS