The next generation of rural doctors

NORTHEAST Health Wangaratta (NHW) has welcomed 16 new interns to start their 12 month intern year. The prevocational doctors will be completing rotations in medicine, surgery, emergency and rehab within the local community in primary health care. Three of the 16 - Will Keenan, Samuel Mclean and Jason Stiles - are Wangaratta locals who have grown up in the area. Jason went to Glenrowan Primary School and Wangaratta High School and chose NHW for internship due to its supportive culture for junior doctors. “NHW is a great training hospital, and I completed my studies here, so it was an easy choice as number one,” he said. Being part of the Melbourne University rural clinical school, Jason has completed many of his placements locally. “Having grown up here, having family nearby, I love the area for its hikes and access to the mountains,” he said. “All my friends from medical school also fell in love with the area and it was an easy choice in the end.” Jason said he decided to become a doctor to move to a more clinical role from his previous job as a medical scientist. He hopes to work rurally in the future and to learn some more practical skills through the internship. “This year I just want to focus on learning the most I can from internship and using some practical skills in the emergency department,” he said. “I have an interest in critical care but infectious diseases ties in well with my previous role as a scientist.“ Samuel was born in Wangaratta and is keen to continue to be a part of the rural community and is still heavily involved in his parents’ cattle farm. He did his placement at NHW in 2023 and recognised the organisation for its “exceptional support for junior doctors”. The interns will be undertaking an induction before being staggered into clinical shifts across the organisation.

The next generation of rural doctors

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