Once again the Amazing Race (Mildura version) has proved a perfect way to introduce medical students to all that Mildura has to offer while they are living in the area.

Students were encouraged to form teams with one student from each of the three year levels. Two of the teams were bolstered by the inclusion of Head of School Professor Judi Walker and Mildura Director Fiona Wright.

Armed with a booklet of tasks, the teams set off to complete their duties safely. Some of the fun activities included picking grapes, finding a lost Monash teddy bear at the swimming beach, discovering parts of Mildura’s history and identifying sporting arenas.

A reward at the end was laid out at the ‘Pitstop’ in the clinical school. It was dinner, consisting of roast meats, potato bakes and salads, followed by ice-cream cones dipped in sprinkles.

But to earn their meal the teams had to complete a final task, one they took to with gusto!

The original plan called for each team to perform 15 seconds of the Chooky Dancers’ version of Zorba the Greek.  But before long all students were mass dancing along with the video on the big screen.

Judi and Fiona opted at this point to adjudicate a number of awards, and also to judge the dancing. 

They were asked to determine one dance winner; however, decided the fairest outcome would to award the best dancer from each of Year 3, Year 4 and Year 5.  

When it came to the award for innovation, the judges were tempted by the team which recorded a NEGATIVE total mileage for the race (???!!); however they decided Year 5 student Cameron Sharp’s leadership and motivation of the other students was more deserving of recognition!

The Chooky Dancers version of Zorba the Greek has everyone on their feet.

 

Monash University Year 4C medical student, Caroline Shipley, has earned a scholarship to assist in her studies with the School of Rural Health in Gippsland.

Caroline, who is studying at the Warragul Campus of Gippsland Regional Clinical School, is the recipient of this year’s ‘Walter and Eliza Hall Trust Opportunity Scholarship – Physical Disability.’

The scholarship is a boost for Caroline, who has already achieved remarkable things to pursue her medical studies.

Caroline had a stroke at age 26 after she had a rare brain tumour removed, which has left her with some residual problems like balance and easy fatigue.  Caroline also has arthritis and required knee surgery last year following a fall on a ward round.

Despite these issues and the obstacles involved as a single parent of a child with special needs, Caroline is continuing her studies.

“Whilst I’m still very much engrossed in the study, fascinated by the human body (and how much we still don’t understand, particularly in the fields of genetic and immunology) I’ve reached that point in a medical student’s career where it’s very clear how little I actually know and how long and difficult this journey is.

“Would I still do it knowing then what I do now?  Absolutely, but I might have deferred a year or two and spent more time at home with my child whilst he was still little. And had a really good holiday somewhere nice first, because I haven’t had time to have one since I started!”

Caroline’s commitment has been commended by all at the Gippsland Regional Clinical School.

Caroline Shipley

Pictured at the prize presentation are, from left, top student for Traralgon campus Ali Nguyen, overall highest achiever Bree Morris, Professor Daryl Pedler and the top student for Warragul Rachel Elliott.

Former Director of the Gippsland Regional Clinical School, Professor Daryl Pedler, returned to his old stomping ground in February to take part in a welcome for 2013 students and present prizes for Gippsland clinical school’s top 2012 Year 3B  students.

The welcome event for the 2013 cohort was held in one of Traralgon’s reception centres and, as well as a dinner to welcome the students to the Gippsland Regional Clinical School, allowed new students to mingle with staff and tutors before getting into the year proper.

Daryl clearly enjoyed the chance to catch up with everyone and also take part in the prize presentation for 2012.

The overall highest achiever was Bree Morris. Rachel Elliott and Ali Nguyen were runners-up.

Students get hands-on experience during transition week

The School of Rural Health has again played an important role in the MBBS Year 1 Transition Program for 2013.

It was held at Monash University, Clayton Campus last Friday and Saturday (1 and 2 March) and the School of Rural Health introduced the Monash Rural Health program to the Year 1 students during the last day of their Orientation Week.

Representatives from Mildura, Bendigo, Gippsland and East Gippsland ensured that Year 1 students were given an opportunity to learn about what awaits them across the next five years within the SRH.

Professor Judi Walker gave a presentation entitled ‘Monash Rural Health: Setting the Scene’ which highlighted rural clinical placements across the MBBS curriculum for direct entry and graduate entry students, as well as raising students’ awareness of rural generalist pathways. (more…)

Year 3B students listen intently during their welcome luncheon at Sale.

A group of around 40 attended a lunch to welcome the Year 3B students to the Sale Campus of East Gippsland Regional Clinical School.

School Director Dr David Campbell addressed the gathering, introducing the students to local clinicians and other health care professionals. The attendees also included representatives from the Rotary Club of Sale and the Community Advisory Committee.

South Gippsland staff, Marlene Archbold, Dr David Iser and Nicole Kellow, at the start of year events.

The South Gippsland group of Year 4C students have started their year, and are now under the auspices of the East Gippsland Regional Clinical School and the Gippsland Regional Integrated Community Curriculum (GRICC) program.

The students, Margaret Young, Michael Craig, Brandon Cheong, Rachel Boyd, Alexander Gordon, Elizabeth Cole and Rachel Elliott, are placed in medical practices in Leongatha, Foster, Wonthaggi and Korumburra for the full year.

They started their year in February with a welcome held at Dr David Iser’s house.

David is the Academic Supervisor for the South Gippsland School and is ably supported by Nicole Kellow, clinical educator and Marlene Archbold who handles all administration at the School.

The students spent a couple of days at the Bairnsdale campus for orientation with both the Sale and Bairnsdale student groups.

Year 4C students from Bairnsdale, Sale and South Gippsland, who are now under the EGRCS banner and part of the Gippsland Regional Integrated Community Curriculum (GRICC) program, are pictured at the Bairnsdale campus during orientation.

The Gippsland Rural Integrated Community Curriculum (GRICC) this year sees the South Gippsland area incorporated into the East Gippsland Regional Clinical School integrated education model (year-long integrated placement) .

There are 23 Year 4C students spread across an area stretching from Omeo, Orbost, Lakes Entrance and Bairnsdale in the East, through Sale, Maffra and Heyfield in Central Gippsland and to Yarram, Leongatha, Foster, Wonthaggi and Korumburra in the South.

The first week in Gippsland for the students was spent in orientation and they came together at the Bairnsdale campus for two days, attending talks by local clinicians covering the broad scope of their studies for this year. A dinner was held at which Dr David Campbell, Director of the East Gippsland Regional Clinical School, outlined the year ahead and encouraged the students to involve themselves in the local community during their stay.

Guest speaker was Dr Sally Singleton. Sally has spent a number of her training years in the East Gippsland area, specifically her fourth year in 2009 at the Bairnsdale campus. Sally spoke of the positive influences and experiences while in the area and her subsequent career path. She answered a number of questions put to her by the students about the program.

The final day of orientation was spent on clinical skills including Emergency scenarios, Children’s Health and General Practice. During the sessions students put their newly acquired knowledge into action, practicing consultation skills and clinical procedures.

The students are now being introduced to their specific medical practices and all are very enthusiastic about being part of the unique integrated program offered at East Gippsland Regional Clinical School.

All registrars, HMOs and interns were invited to have lunch at Mildura Regional Clinical School in mid-February, which was also the first day for Year 4 students in Mildura.

The gathering allowed the hospital staff to put names to faces, and feel more comfortable about the roles they are asked to do for the school.

The Registrars in particular have previously been given packs of information about their involvement with students, what students need to gain from their clinical experiences, and any assessment processes that the Registrars need to be involved in.

Director of the East Gippsland Clinical School Dr David Campbell (right) with guest speaker at the Bairnsdale student welcome dinner, Geoff Wigney and his wife Lynice.

Representatives from Bairnsdale Regional Health Service, local medical general practitioners and specialists, members of the Indigenous community and representatives from Secondary Schools in the area were among those who took part in a welcome dinner for East Gippsland Regional Clinical School (Bairnsdale campus) Year 4C medical students.

Each of the nine students gave a short talk outlining their background and their expectations of the year spent in the Gippsland area and at their respective local medical practices.

The students and guests also heard a fascinating talk by guest speaker, Mr Geoff Wigney, who spoke of his work in many countries, including Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Africa, offering assistance for women affected by sexual, substance and alcohol abuse as well as trafficking of young girls. Many of these women are suffering from AIDS.

Geoff and his wife Lynice have built, with the help of volunteers, a factory in Thailand for women to manufacture products such as handbags, picture frames and trinkets.

In addition they are building a kitchen in Cambodia for the local women to run cooking classes for the many tourists who visit their area.  Geoff and Lynice wife run a local business in Bairnsdale called Empower International, which buys and sells all the produce from these countries.

The successful evening was an opportunity for students to get to know each other and the staff from their practices. All students are now looking forward to immersing themselves in their respective communities.

All students have enjoyed their 2013 Orientation Weeks at Bendigo Regional Clinical School, although not in the rooms in which they will spend most of this year.

Year 3 students commenced on 4 February and Year 4 students the following week. As the school was undergoing significant renovations to its building, which saw nearly all class rooms out of action, a significant amount of work was put into finding alternative venues to hold the orientation programs.

The Year 3 students were based in the new La Trobe University clinical teaching building adjacent to Bendigo’s and the clinical school was very grateful that colleagues at La Trobe were able to help out.  The Year 4 students had most of their programs delivered at the previous Monash University building at Lister House.

Renovations are now almost complete and everyone is looking forward to not having to move between buildings for lectures.  A welcome dinner was held on Tuesday 12 February where all students from Year levels 3 – 5 were welcomed to the region and had the opportunity to meet some of their lecturers and staff for their year.