Growing up in Mudgee, Bec developed a strong connection to rural communities. After completing her undergraduate degree in pharmacy and working as a pharmacist, she chose to pursue a medical degree at the University of Wollongong. Her interest in rural medicine and obstetrics was solidified during a placement in Forbes, New South Wales.

“The reason I chose ACRRM and general practices as a career path was because I just wanted to do everything – which is probably one of my problems. I couldn't necessarily narrow down a specialty that I wanted to do exclusively.”

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Having recently Fellowed with ACRRM, Bec originally chose the ACRRM fellowship training program for its emphasis on well-rounded rural medicine. The program has allowed her to develop a wide range of skills, making her confident in providing exceptional care to her patients and working across different healthcare settings, including in her beloved rural community of Mudgee. 

“ACRRM training really equips you to actually have well-rounded rural skills so you can jump straight in and work in the hospital. You can work in a general practice; you can work in other environments. You're not narrowed down to one line of work, and I think that's really the benefit of Rural Generalist training with ACRRM. You get to do so much, which brings you out the other end as a very well-rounded rural doctor.”

As a Staff Specialist at Mudgee Hospital, Dr. Devitt does a bit of everything but primarily splits her time between the emergency department and obstetrics and gynaecology. She finds satisfaction in the unpredictable nature of emergency medicine, where she must be prepared for all types of medical emergencies. In obstetrics and gynaecology, she enjoys the combination of medicine, surgery, and longitudinal care, providing support to women throughout their pregnancies.

“In rural Emergency Medicine, you just don't know what's going to come through the door. Sometimes you have to step up and work on something very emergent and other times you need to be a bit of a problem solver and find out what's going on and how you can best help that patient. I’ve also always really loved doing obstetrics. I think it's a great combination. You do some medicine, you do some surgery, and you also do a lot of longitudinal care.” 

Inspired by the vibrant rural communities and the unique challenges they face, Bec values the opportunity to develop a broad range of skills and make a difference in the lives of her patients. Overall, Bec’s experience as a Rural Generalist reflects her commitment to serving rural communities and her passion for providing comprehensive healthcare. She embraces the diverse challenges and opportunities in rural medicine, making a positive impact on the lives of her patients.

"When I look back on my career, I want to be able to say that I’ve been a good mother and wife, daughter and friend. And I hope that the job I do every day makes a difference for people and I hope that I can continue to support and grow the medical community in Mudgee.”