Medical students who graduated from the University of Tasmania during December have kickstarted their careers as North-West doctors this week.
Seven students who completed their higher education at the Rural Clinical School in Burnie are remaining in the region to commence hospital residencies.
The interns will be undertaking their orientation in Burnie before beginning three-month rotations in places that include King Island and Queenstown.
Dr Lizzi Shires, Director of the Rural Clinical School, said it was exciting to have students staying on to further their education and training.
“We are very proud that our graduates have developed an interest in rural health, a love for the North-West, and a commitment for supporting this region’s communities,” Dr Shires said.
“They will be joined by three other University of Tasmania medical graduates who are moving to the coast after completing their training elsewhere in the State.
“Over the next 12 months, the group will be furthering their training in emergency departments, surgical and medical wards and local practices, while also gaining insight into areas of medicine that include orthopaedics and rehabilitation medicine.”
As part of the orientation formalities, the Tasmanian Health Service presented two prestigious awards.
Local junior doctor Ben Dodds who undertook his internship in 2018 after training at the Rural Clinical School, was recognised with the Intern of the Year accolade for acting as a role model and inspiring others.
Paris Pearce, who is now an Emergency Department registrar with the North-West Regional Hospital was announced as the Registered Medical Officer for 2018, an accolade that is awarded to the region’s top-performing junior doctor.
The awards are presented in honour of Dr Paul Huang who was a radiologist at the North-West Regional Hospital for many years until the early 1990s, and Dr Richard Buttfield, a former Director of Medical Services at hospital and CEO of the North-West Health Region in the early 1990s.
Dr Helen McArdle, Director of Medical Services for the North West Region Tasmanian Health Service, said recognising doctors in training was important not only for local hospitals but also communities.
“Our interns and resident medical officers work hard to keep patients well and safe. When they select one of their peers as a role model for themselves and others, such selection is important,” Dr McArdle said.
“All trainee doctors have gone through rigorous and often challenging training. For one to excel in clinical management, professionalism, communication and be held in high regard by their peers is highly commendable and bodes well for Tasmania’s and Australia’s rural workforce.”
