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

I first decided on becoming a Rural Generalist (RG) when I worked in South Gippsland, Victoria with an amazing bunch of skilled RGs when I was an intern. The breadth and depth of medicine they conducted was amazing. It was why I left nursing to be a doctor. From emergencies, aged care to paediatrics and anaesthetics; it was a real eye opener. More importantly, they were kind, genuine and friendly.

What has been the biggest influence on your career?

Aside from my great experience working rurally as an intern, the biggest influence has been a few consultants I have worked with over the years. They all share common traits. That is, they are superb educators, advocate for junior doctors, eliminate the hierarchal nature of medicine, rally for change and are 100 per cent dedicated to delivering quality care.

What inspired you to start Media Doctors Australia and Project Covid 19, and what are you hoping to achieve?

During the Rural Medicine Australia 2019 conference I was randomly asked what my “creative ambition” was. Ironically, it was that week that I was determining a way to combine my passion for lifestyle health, music, fashion, fitness and dance. Later, people from all walks of life were commending me on my ability to engage, network and communicate. I finally had the courage to do something about it and make a master plan to create the first central group of dynamic doctors to relay health messages.

Media Doctors Australia aims to engage with a wider audience using creative videography and social media. In just a couple of months many people have warmed to the idea. Our first project had over 40,000 views and went as far as New York. It was our way to introduce ourselves and show how we can use the most creative tools to improve the health literacy of the nation.

In addition, it was my way of keeping in line with my personal vision of changing the face of medicine and showing genuine compassion and kindness in a field where competition and hierarchy can sometimes dominate.   

You've used dance to share an important message - when did you first get involved in dance, and how important do you think it is to balance your work as a doctor with creative interests?

Dance is such an amazing way to communicate. I started when I was a kid at about eight years old. In a world of social distancing – touch has been eliminated and in dance it is about the body language, the melody and movement. It connects the world. Something we need now more than ever.  

Medicine is hard work and you need to have other interests to help recharge. Your patients will appreciate it, as will your colleagues. At the end of the day, doctors deal with real people. We do not sit in front of a desk with just a computer and piece of paper. Revealing your humanistic side and engaging through other means helps improve the doctor patient interaction.

You are clearly passionate about the importance of doctors expressing themselves and having an outlet during difficult times. How would you inspire other doctors to use their creative skills to share messaging on COVID-19, or other health matters?

Simply have a rest.. Rekindle your past hobbies and interests. So often, medical people leave their interests behind as they complete rigorous training demands.

What’s next for you? Can you share some insight into other projects you are currently working on?

My next project is a dance video “paying it forward”. Saying thanks to Ranges Rescue – a not-for-profit organisation that has dedicated time to making scrubs for health care professionals across the state. In addition, saying thanks to Poked Australia, who are delivering healthy meals to hospital workers.

As I knuckle down and study again, I have a few people helping me out. I want to continue advocating for junior doctors and using creative ways to better engage with the general public to spread important health messages.

There is so many mixed messages on COVID-19 and that is because doctor’s have never really had an audience in Australia.

I want Media Doctors Australia to rectify this. In the near future, I want to take it to another level to showcase the full capability of what can be done with balanced, carefully calculated health messages relayed to the public from a trusted friendly source. 

To watch Amran's latest video, click here.