Gippsland clinicians showcase careers
Informative: medical students George Tsihlis and harmee Kavr (left) with Associate Professor Joseph Tam and consultant physicianm Dr Megan Brown at the recent careers night.
A team of experienced physicians and specialists gave Gippsland-based medical students an insight into studying, training and working in regional areas at an engaging and informative evening recently.
In a first for the region, 11 clinicians covering a diverse range of fields spoke to a packed auditorium at Latrobe Regional Hospital (LRH) in Traralgon last week. The third, fourth and fifth year medical students are studying medicine with the School of Rural Health Latrobe Valley & West Gippsland
The event was organised by the director of the local clinical teaching site, Associate Professor Joseph Tam, also a well-known local paediatrician.
Associate Professor Tam said the careers night was in keeping with the School of Rural Health’s philosophy of vertical education and training for students. He praised senior medical staff who “overwhelmingly” agreed to help with advice on training requirements, pathways and working in the Gippsland region.
“All speakers have a passion for their profession and acknowledge the importance of having these services available to regional and rural areas,” he said. “Our major regional hospitals and general practices are doing outstanding work.”
Associate Professor Tam hopes the information imparted by the doctors will “help and inspire” students in selecting their field of practice.
Speaking from local experience
Thoracic surgeon Mr Cliff Choong (right) demonstrates some of his “tools of trade” to medical student Rohan Smith.
Speakers, who all practise at Gippsland hospitals and clinics, were:
- Dr Amit Traipathi (Radiology)
- Mr Neil Jayasuriya (General Surgery)
- Dr Megan Brown (General Medicine)
- Drs Michael Kunze and Paul Brougham (General Practice)
- Dr Yaman Al-Azzawi (Emergency Medicine)
- Mr Cliff Choong (Thoracic Surgery)
- Assoc Prof Paul Lee (Psychiatry)
- Dr Rob Dawson (Anaesthetics)
- Dr Tam (Paediatrics)
Dr Brown is a former Monash student who spent a year at West Gippsland Hospital (WGH) in Warragul in 2008 and a year at LRH in 2009. She is on rural secondment at WGH as an Advanced Trainee in General Medicine which involves management of complex medical problems.
“It is a fantastic field; I love it,” she told students. “It’s intellectually stimulating and you never stop learning. If you are passionate about patients, then being a physician is great. You get to meet some of the most amazing people while helping patients struggling with complex medical diseases. It is a great privilege.”
Dr Brown said it took six years after internship to become a consultant physician and part of that training could be done in Gippsland. “In the long term, regional areas like Gippsland need good physicians – they can transform a community.”
All speakers told students their work was “fulfilling, very worthwhile and sometimes tiring” however all “love what they do”.
They encouraged students to work in regional areas where there were many opportunities.
GPs, Michael Kunze (Trafalgar) and Paul Brougham (Traralgon), described themselves as “doctors who do everything”.
“Towns need GPs who can do obstetrics, anaesthesia, dermatology, psychiatry and more,” Dr Kunze said. “And regional centres are happy for you to blend in with their hospital settings.”
Dr Brougham said there were great opportunities for extra training. “You can deliver a baby one day and the next, do palliative care. It’s very fulfilling,” he added. “The sense of community is terrific in rural areas. You walk along the street and people say ‘hello’.”
As well as practising in their chosen fields, the speakers outlined opportunities to teach and train with regional hospitals like LRH having strong links to major metropolitan hospitals.
Anaesthetist Dr Rob Dawson highlighted the importance of communication, professionalism, collaboration, scholarship, management and health advocacy while surgeon Mr Neil Jayasuriya said Australia had one of the best surgical training programs in the world.
“You become a much more rounded person as you are tested in many ways,” Mr Jayasuriya added. “It is not an easy road but there is light at the end of the tunnel and it’s very rewarding.”
“You are exposed to a range of experiences and get to work with other great health professionals,” Thoracic Surgeon Mr Choong added.
Associate Prof Lee summed up: “There are not only great employment opportunities (in medicine) but this (Gippsland) is a great lifestyle choice.”