A GROUP of third year medical students have rolled up their sleeves and delved into Mount Gambier’s medical sector as part of the Flinders University rural program.
A total of 10 students are spread across the South East and Western Victoria to participate in university’s year-long Parallel Rural Community Curriculum program.
The program aims to introduce medical students to the rigours, challenges and rewards of rural and regional medicine.
World recognised, the program has produced medical professionals of the highest standard, many who have returned to regional locations to make their homes within the community.
Student Chula Murray said country general practice provided her with a breadth of experience that she would be unlikely to get in the city.
“As a medical student, sometimes you feel as if you are in the way in the bigger hospitals,” she said.
“You might get placed on one ward in the city and just observe for the most part.
“In this program, we get to see patients throughout the whole health care continuum from hospitals to allied health.
“We get to get involved and help out the other clinicians, which makes us feel like we are being useful.”
The students all agreed the program’s “hands-on” approach was among their motivation for participating in the initiative.
Student Pamela Gebrehiwot highlighted repeated contact between an individual patient and a doctor as another benefit of rural practice.
“It is nice to have continuity of care with the patients,” she said.
“You get to know them better and it is great to be involved in a small community.
“Everyone is really friendly and supportive and it makes you want to do that in the future.”
Program academic coordinator Dr Leesa Walker said the program provided students access to a wide range of clinical material.
“It is very exciting for students to be actively involved in the management of their patients,” she said.
“It opens our eyes to what we do.”
She said learning was integrated across the six third-year disciplines of Medicine, Surgery, Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, General Practice and Psychiatry.
