Tell us about your journey into medicine. What made you want to pursue a career as a Rural Generalist?

I come from a non-medical family in the capital city of Perth WA. When I left high school, medicine was the furthest thing from my mind. My dream was to be the general manager of the Australian Ballet Company by the age of 23 I’ve ended up as a GP obstetrician in the rural town of Deniliquin, NSW. Life certainly throws some curve balls to make things interesting!

Well I started my arts degree I hated it. I was bored and I quickly realised I had no passion for excel spreadsheets even when they were linked to tutus and pointe shoes. I moved to a science degree and liked it but once again, spending hours alone in a lab did not suit me either. I had to blend the two. Medicine, a science based on a subtle artform appealed to me. I always wanted a career which would contribute to the world and where I felt I could make a difference so medicine seemed a nature progression.

Studying medicine at Flinders University gave me the opportunity to explore. Medicine is so special in the way you can travel off the beaten path and be so accepted by different communities. I found myself choosing rural rotation after rural rotation because I liked the variety, locations and the communities.

My journey to a career in Rural Generalism was a slow but considered path. I remember having breakfast with my boyfriend, now husband, we were both so tired between him working ED and me working O&G shifts. We were seeing so many patients and yet felt we were not making a difference to the communities. We felt like we were on conveyor belts, creating no actual meaningful change. We missed the variety, we missed nature, and we missed the sense of community we had in our rural experiences. We both had positive rural experiences but are both from major cities, so it felt like a risk. In the end we just thought “let's give it a go” and we took the plunge to move rural and give it our best shot. What we have found is a very rewarding and fulfilling career which we are able to achieve together.

What does rural generalism mean to you?

To me a Rural Generalist is a doctor who can walk into any clinical situation and has the skills to contribute to the wellbeing of the patient. This doesn’t mean being an expert in every field but means knowing how to assess, triage, ask for help, plan logistics and manage a team. It is the feeling of being capable in a range of different clinical settings from primary care to the emergency room to retrievals and everything in between.

What does a typical workday or week look like for you?

The word “typical” needs to be removed from the vocabulary when talking about rural generalism because there is no such thing. On occasion I have a week when I solely do general practice which I love. Other times I am doing my GP clinics, being on call for the local ED, handling hospital inpatients or managing the obstetric unit. It can go from calm to very busy very quickly. I usually describe it as having multiple hats but I love each one of my hats so it is always a good day, even though sometimes it is a long day.

Do you have any career highlights so far?

I have so many highlights. Being a female rural GP in itself is a highlight. The number of female rural GPs is very low and there is such a high percentage of women who unfortunately feel uncomfortable discussing certain matters with male GPs. I have had so many conversations to young adults about contraception, STIs and periods, I have completed so many cervical screens that have been very much overdue, and have started the conversation around urinary continence for many older woman who have been suffering in silence. These things equal long-term benefits and it’s a privilege to be a part of.

I also provide termination services which is not my favourite aspect of medicine, but I feel it is vitally important for woman to have control over their bodies and futures. Currently, rural women have very limited services for termination which results in needing to travel long distance at a high financial cost meaning some are excluded from having a choice. I am happy to say I am forming a very small part of the solution to this problem and I can follow up with better contraception options thereafter.

On a lighter note, I diagnosed a STEMI as it was happening in ED. I was watching the telemetry of an aboriginal women who came in with nausea. I was looking at the screen as the ST elevation started and said, “that looks like a STEMI!”. The printout confirmed I was right. We managed to thrombolysis shortly after leading to a very small amount of time with lack of perfusion.

Regarding obstetrics, I have had so many. I have had women who have very few supports and by being able to deliver close to home it means they can stay close to family and friends during such an important part of their lives. Then getting to take care of growing families after the delivery is very special. Some of the babies I have delivered are now turning two!

As a recent Fellow, do you have any tips for medical students and junior doctors who are thinking about choosing a career in rural medicine?

Take the plunge. When you have lived city your whole life it can be challenge because it is a different lifestyle and location as well as a job but life is about having an adventure and taking risks. Moving rural can be amazing.