What made you want to pursue a career as a rural GP?

Early in medical school we did a week-long visit to a rural town about 4 hours from Adelaide. I vividly remember meeting such a diverse, passionate group of rural GPs who had it made. They had families, interests outside of medicine, they were involved in the communities, and had fascinating stories to tell about their work. I was so inspired by them that I spent as much time as a I could in my clinical years of medical school in rural areas on various placements which further cemented my decision to pursue a career as a rural GP.

Why did you choose to train with ACRRM?

I chose ACRRM as it recognises that being a GP in an urban setting is essentially a different career than being a rural or remote GP. Each group of GPs, whether urban or rural-based, face unique challenges. I felt from the outset that ACRRM are dedicated to a training program that differentiates these challenges and prepares you for those you face in the rural/remote setting.

What are some things you might normally do in a day/week as a Rural Generalist?

I am in a town with a population of about 6000. I work for the local hospital as a GP obstetrician, and also work one day a week as a Medical Educator for our rural medical students. My hospital work involves a mix of emergency, ward work, outreach clinics to remote communities, antenatal clinics and procedural obstetrics. 

I feel my job is rural medicine at its best. The days range from managing trauma patients in the emergency department, managing medical patients on the ward, and travelling to remote communities for antenatal clinics where you start to build rapport with women who you follow through their pregnancy, delivery and follow them up for post-partum review.

Do you have any career highlights so far?

I’ve been working in Kununurra for 4 years and I think one of the nicest parts of my career is local women and their families have begun to recognise and know me. Babies I delivered are toddlers now, and women are coming back for their second or third delivery, and excited at the prospect I might be the doctor looking after them. Having completed my training in 2019, I am able to begin to provide mentorship for new registrars and hopefully pass on my passion for rural medicine to the students I get to teach.

What do you hope to do in the future?

After taking a break travelling from mid 2019 we returned when COVID-19 hit and borders were closing. This last year has been a whirlwind of change with accepting more responsibilities in the hospital, buying our very own property here, and expecting our first baby due early 2021. I have been so very well supported during my pregnancy  I even had a patient feel comfortable enough to poke my belly in the antenatal clinic and say "hey sister, do you know you’re pregnant too?"