Dr Coates received an Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) 2022 Honorary Fellowship Award for providing a significant contribution to ACRRM and the field of rural generalism.

Why ACRRM?

ACRRM has always been easy to deal with. They’re already in the field, they understand the rural context and everything flows from there. It was a no-brainer to work with ACRRM.

I am inspired by the young doctors training with ACRRM and their enthusiasm as RGs. Even late on a Tuesday night, after a hard day of work, they show up, stay engaged, ask questions, many of them intensely looking in the Zoom camera and engaging in the guidance they are receiving from fellow RGs.

What does rural generalism mean to you?

Dr Coates notes the value of contextualised training where experienced RGs teach the new generation, rather than over-reliance on city-based specialists.

“Introducing likeminded doctors and finding recruits for our future who are good quality ACRRM RG enthusiasts is what I hope to achieve,” Dr Coates says.

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