Dr Julie Willems of MUDRIH has been elected Vice President of the Open and Distance Learning Association of Australia (ODLAA).

ODLAA is a professional association of educators, instructional designers, educational researchers, education consultants and administrators from across Australia and overseas that is dedicated to advancement of research, practice, and support of education across time and space.

See the ODLAA website for more information about the organisation.

Congratulations to Julie!

Local intensive care specialist and physician Associate Professor Alistair Wright and paediatrician Dr Cathy Coates have been appointed as Clinical Deans at the Gippsland Regional Clinical School.

The role of the two Deans is to develop and lead clinical teaching for Years 3B, 4C and 5D students who are learning and training at the Regional Clinical School and Latrobe Regional Hospital.

Acting Director at Gippsland Regional Clinical School, Associate Professor Elmer Villanueva, said the Clinical School was delighted that Associate Professor Wright and Dr Coates had agreed to the roles.

“We were looking for senior medical officers and experienced medical educators with excellent communication skills and both Cathy and Alistair fulfill those criteria,” he said. “They will work with senior medical staff at the Hospital to deliver innovative clinical teaching programs with the hospital, teaching on the ward and in outpatient clinics.”

The roles include facilitation of medical students’ practical clinical placement needs within Latrobe Regional Hospital, a liaison role between Gippsland Regional Clinical School and medical administration and they will also join the State-wide network of Clinical Deans.

In an article published by Charles Sturt University January 23, medical consultant Emeritus Professor John Dwyer made the claim that rural clinical schools in Australia have failed to increase the number of medical graduates moving to work in rural areas.

The real issue, perhaps overlooked by Professor Dwyer, is a shortage of rural postgraduate training places to accommodate the growing numbers of medical graduates exposed to rural practice.

Medical graduates report their frustrations that, while they are receiving excellent undergraduate rural clinical training, there are limited opportunities to find a rural postgraduate training pathway. (more…)

Pictured are Monash graduates and new doctors, from left, Tom Walsh, Elisabeth Hatzistavrou, Sharon Johnson, Ruth Briggs, Andrew Thomas, Sarah Wilmot, Derek Pol, Danielle Winkelman, Shane Robbins and Steph Pong.

Monash School of Rural Health graduates have flocked to the Gippsland intern program in 2013.

All ten of this year’s intake to the Gippsland Regional Intern Training (GRIT) program are Monash graduates and seven of those already have a close association with the area, having undertaken much of their training through the School of Rural Health’s Gippsland Regional Clinical School, East Gippsland Regional Clinical School and were enrolled at the Gippsland Medical School at Churchill.

Those seven include Derek Pol, Sarah Wilmot, Andrew Thomas, Danielle Winkelman, Sharon Johnson, Shane Robbins and Ruth Briggs. The other three new interns are Tom Walsh, Steph Pong and Elisabeth Hatzistavrou, who completed their MBBS at Monash Clayton.

Seven former students returning as interns is a record for the Monash University School of Rural Health. (more…)

For East Gippsland Regional Clinical School student Lauren Tanzen, working in the High Country in a rural GP environment was an unexpected high point. Here is her story.

The GP component of Year 4, primarily at Omeo and Swifts Creek, has not simply been a matter of another year down, attendance ticked off and signatures gathered for the log books.

I’ve found it rather difficult to leave.

To provide an overview of the area and access to health care, Omeo, Swifts Creek and Ensay have a population catchment of around 2,100 across 5,500 km² in East Gippsland, Victoria.  This population is served by one of six rotating, very busy Consultant GPs.  The Doctor on duty provides a 24 hour service at any given time from Sunday afternoon to noon the following Friday. It is no ‘sleepy hollow’. (more…)

Jackie Fankhauser

The opportunity to be involved in a world first neurolinguistic case – while still a medical student at the Gippsland Regional Clinical School – has culminated in Jackie Fankhauser being cited as co-author of an article in the prestigious ‘Journal of Neurolinguistics.’

The case relates to a West Gippsland woman who was diagnosed with Foreign Accent Syndrome (FAS), a baffling disorder where a person afflicted starts to speak with what sounds like a foreign accent. (more…)

Coomealla High School Students, from left, Matthew Mathieson, Bailey Catterton, Lauren Fraser, Sophie Stephens, Rhianna Duncan, Holly Lush, Abbey Henderson, Beth Darby, Shanae Tilley, Mikaela Fraser, Emily Smith, Dylan Watson and Shae McDonnell. They all had great fun working with mannequin SimMan3G.

Coomealla High School Students, keen on nursing, from left Megan Clothier, Beth Darby, Shae McDonnell and Nikita Dalzell. All enjoyed working with one of the school's mannequins, SimNewB.

In collaboration with Broken Hill University’s Department of Rural Health, Mildura Regional Clinical School facilitated two Academy Days late last year for 30 students enthusiastic about pursuing a career in Medicine or Nursing.

The clinically-practical and action-packed days were a huge success as the students, from Coomealla High School in Dareton NSW,  enjoyed demonstrations of current medical skills and thrived on the multitude of hands-on experiences. (more…)

The three local students, now doctors, who attended Kurnai College just down the road from Gippsland Medical School, are pictured at the graduation with Mr Geoff Booth (Co-Principal, Kurnai College). They are Dr Danielle Winkelman, Dr Andrew Thomas and Dr Carly Jennings.

The Gippsland Medical School welcomed 82 Year A students last week, the School’s sixth intake.  The first week included a number of highlights as part of the introductory activities.

The new cohort was addressed by Professor Robin Pollard, Vice Chancellor and President, Gippsland Campus; Professor Judi Walker, Head of School of Rural Health; Professor Ben Canny, Deputy Dean, MBBS & Head of Program, Central MBBS; and Professor Shane Bullock, Acting Director Gippsland Medical School.

The winner of the Academic Excellence for he Highest Achiever in Year A 2012 is Jamie Croft.

The presentation was followed by a musical interlude by Associate Professor Brian Chapman.

On the following day, the students attended a team building day run by the Clinical Skills Team involving many hands-on activities, including a simulated bus creash.

Dr David Iser, a well-respected general practitioner from Foster, gave the ‘Inspirational Speakers’ address on Friday, 1 February.

The GMS graduating group from 2012

The 75 students who began their studies in 2009 have graduated as the second cohort from Gippsland Medical School after completing their course in 2012.

Among the graduating students, six are from overseas, 13 are from interstate and seven have either lived or worked in the Gippsland area prior to becoming medical students.

The School is especially pleased that the graduating class includes three students from a secondary school situated less than five minutes’ walk from the Gippsland Medical School itself. They are Dr Danielle Winkelman, Dr Andrew Thomas and Dr Carly Jennings.

Everyone at the School of Rural Health wish the graduates all the best for their internships in 2013.

Graduation 2012 at Gippsland Medical School

The 75 students who began their studies in 2009, graduated as the second cohort from Gippsland Medical School.

Among the 75 graduating students, six are from overseas, 13 are from interstate and seven have either lived or worked in the Gippsland area prior to becoming medical students. We are especially pleased that this year’s graduating class includes three students from a secondary school situated less than five minutes’ walk from the Gippsland Medical School itself.

We wish the graduates all the best for their internship in 2013.