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Community welcome for future doctors training on the Coast

Community Welcome 2019

The University of Tasmania’s Rural Clinical School (RCS) hosted a community event in Burnie on Thursday, 31 January to mark the arrival of the new Year 4 and Year 5 students.

The evening showcased the advantages of living, working and studying on the Coast, and representatives from the community, health sector and government met the students. 

Dr Lizzi Shires, Director of the RCS, said she hoped the event would make the students feel welcome and help them settle on the Coast.

“The RCS is excited to be welcoming 54 new and returning medical students to the North-West for the clinical years of their study,” Dr Shires said.

“Over the next year, our students will be working in our communities to develop their medical skills and knowledge and work in community-based programs.

“We host a Community Welcome annually, and this year’s event was particularly engaging for all involved through an expo-style format.

“Students rotated through different stations, giving them opportunities to meet community groups and find out about the region’s culture and activities.

“They also met health professionals, including GPs and many of our alumni who are now furthering their postgraduate training locally as doctors.

“The event is a celebration of all the North-West Coast has to offer, and we hope it shows our fourth and fifth years the many rewarding aspects of where a rural health career can take them.”

Fifth-year RCS students who travelled interstate and overseas to undertake summer medical electives presented their experiences at the event.

The recipients of two local scholarships were also announced.

The Simon Monks Memorial Award for Excellence in General Practice supports a high-achieving medical student in their fifth year of study. 

The award is presented in memory of local GP Simon Monks and this year has been awarded to Angus Ewing.

The Rotary Club of Wynyard Scholarship in Rural Medicine is awarded to a student with an interest in rural medicine who is commencing the final two years of their study in the North-West.

It was jointly-awarded to Sarah Grace and Sidonie Matthew.

Published on: 04 Feb 2019 2:50pm