Life as a GP

Dr Sylvia Lim has had an interesting journey to becoming a GP trainee in Cootamundra.

Undertaking his GP training on the composite pathway, Dr Huan Doan is enjoying his rural rotation in Narrabri where he has found the community welcoming and the clinical work varied and interesting. It’s a move he’d definitely recommend.

Dr Ezekiel Raju undertook an Aboriginal health training post during his GP training, now fellowed he is working in an Aboriginal community controlled health service and enjoys the holistic care model that the services are known for.

Dr Jordon Cox started her GP training in Sydney but transferred to Western NSW to live and work in the small town of Blayney, where she and her family now feel part of the small community. Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background? I wear many hats and love them all!  I’m…

Dr Vanessa Hewitt is a rural generalist working in Grafton where she splits her time between GP training, working in the emergency department of Grafton Hospital, teaching and mentoring medical students, and enjoying a few laughs over regular pub trivia.

After meeting his first transgender patient, Newcastle-based GP supervisor Dr Steve Kelly, developed his subspecialty in transgender health. While she was a GP registrar, Dr Natalie Yeung sought a post in Dr Kelly’s practice to develop her own knowledge around transgender health.

Dr Ryan Lui chose to train on a composite training pathway so he could experience rural medicine. Undertaking his first training term in Sydney, Ryan then moved to Dubbo where he has enjoyed the experience and the supervision he has received, he has chosen to continue his training in Western NSW.

Dr Aliza Lord is training as a rural generalist in the outback city of Broken Hill. She chose advanced skills in emergency medicine as she wanted to challenge herself and the additional skills are complimentary to rural general practice. 

Based in Cowra, Dr Teena Downton is a rural generalist with advanced skills in obstetrics and gynaecology. She is passionate about rural healthcare and ensuring that rural patients access high quality and safe care close to home.

Dr Shamaela Ullah is training on the composite pathway as an opportunity to get out of her comfort zone and experience rural medicine. Beginning her GP training with the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Broken Hill has been a wonderful introduction to rural GP training.

Dr Amy Derrick is enjoying the opportunity to train in the Western NSW town of Cowra as a stepping stone to a life as a rural GP.  

Dr Saima Arshad moved to New England/Northwest for her GP training. Recently Fellowed, she has settled in the town of Narrabri where she and her family intend to stay for at least the next few years.

Dr Funmi Komolafe is a long-term GP supervisor in the the far western NSW city of Broken Hill, she is motivated to help aspiring doctors experience and enjoy a rewarding career in general practice.  

Dr Mary Beth MacIsaac has relocated to Broken Hill where she is continuing to supervise GP registrars, which she considers to be an investment in the future of general practice. 

Dr Domonic Manassa made the move from the big smoke to train as a GP in Cooma in 2016; he liked it so much he and his wife bought a house and settled in the town. 

Dr Rhiannon Baldwin is a general pathway registrar undertaking her GP training in the rural town of Young. Apart from the annual cherry festival, she is looking forward to clinical work and the opportunity to explore other areas of interest during her training.

Dr Justin Hunter was the 2020 winner of the RACGP Growing Strong Together Award that recognises an exceptional Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander GP in training. Justin is a Medical Officer in the Royal Australian Navy and has undertaken part of his GP training at an Aboriginal community controlled health service.

Transferring from Sydney to Armidale to complete his GP training, Dr Hugh Pearson has no intention of returning to the big smoke. His training experience combined with the benefits of living in a rural area have reinforced his intention to work as a GP in Armidale.

Dr Madeline Wilson grew up in Sydney but a taste of rural general practice during medical school convinced her that being a rural GP was for her. The breadth of clinical work and being an integral part of the community are just part of the attraction to training in Western NSW.

Dr Seren Ovington is undertaking an academic post to explore the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic on general practice – how it has affected GP’s professional identity, their clinical practice, their patient-doctor relationships and their mental health.

Dr Isabel Hanson is undertaking an academic post in 2021, her project aims to identify barriers and consider how to increase social prescribing in the Australian context.

As part of her academic post Dr Katie Fisher will be working with the ReCEnT project focusing on the billing aspect of GP registrar consultations and telehealth uptake by registrars.

Starting his GP training in Canberra as a general pathway registrar, Dr Justin Friedman decided to try rural training in the Murrumbidgee town of Griffith. Finding he enjoyed living and working in the multicultural town he has stayed on and is now undertaking his Extended Skills term there.

When Dr Maelle Morgan moved to Moree for her GP training, she only expected to stay for two years, five years later, she is a qualified GP and GP supervisor who can’t imagine living anywhere else.

Dr Benjamin Tang is a composite pathway registrar, he undertook his first GP term in Western NSW in the small rural town of Oberon – an experience he enjoyed so much he is staying on for a second term.

As a general pathway registrar, Claire Monaghan wanted to get some rural experience early in her GP training. Based on a recommendation, she sought out the Murrumbidgee town of Temora. Although COVID-19 hit within a month of her arrival, she has decided to extend her training in Temora by another six months. She tells us why. 

Dr Sara Berry is training on the composite pathway, choosing to spend an additional term in the Central West town of Orange, she has found the experience personally and professionally rewarding.

As a medical student, Dr Jessica Yabsley undertook rural placements and realised she loved the lifestyle and being part of a rural community, she’s now training to be a rural generalist in the Western NSW town of Coonabarabran.

As a rural generalist trainee in Western NSW, Dr Lin Hu is enjoying the best of both worlds – as a GP looking after people at all stages of their lives while also providing quality obstetric care to a rural community.

Despite growing up in Newcastle and studying in Sydney, Dr Mary Elsley had her sights set on training to become a rural procedural GP in New England/Northwest. Having completed Advanced Skills Training in paediatrics she is completing GP training in Inverell.

Dr Nadia Clifton loves that as a GP she can wear many different hats from clinical practice, to medical educator with GP Synergy, consulting and advocacy work, policy making and teaching medical students. Not to mention using her GP skills on an extended trip around Australia.

Always knowing that general practice was for him, Dr Shaun Foster finds general practice offers him the opportunity to develop lasting relationships with his patients and the variety of medicine he sees allows him to maintain his interests across many fields of medicine.

Dr Kamal Singh chose his extended skills term in dermatology to further work on his surgical and diagnostic skills. Kamal was awarded the 2019 NSW/ACT RACGP Registrar of the Year Award, for completed the RACGP fellowship exam with the highest overall score.

Dr Emma Mason is currently completing her extended skills in sexual health at a Sydney clinic, for her outstanding achievement as a GP registrar she was awarded the 2019 GP Synergy Registrar of the Year for Nepean, Western & Northern Sydney.

Dr Martiane Bersano is currently completing her extended skills in women’s health and hopes to build a practice focusing on her interest in that area. She was awarded the 2018 GP Synergy Registrar of the Year for Central, Eastern & South Western Sydney for outstanding achievement as a GP registrar.

Originally from Perth, Dr Rachel James is a trainee GP obstetrician who with her husband Ben, a trainee GP anaesthetist, decided on making the move into rural general practice. Rachel won GP Synergy’s 2019 rural video competition with a video highlighting the reasons she loves living and working in Deniliquin.

Previously based in Sydney, Dr Hugh Stump is living and training in Orange. He believes the benefits of being a rural GP registrar outweigh those of being in the city, whether it’s scope of practice or lifestyle.

Drawn to providing primary health care and continuity of care in a community of need, Dr Emily Hedditch chose to train in Western NSW, she has found the training support and work-life balance have further confirmed she has made the right career choice.

Inspired by his local GP, Dr Ty Clayworth is currently undertaking GP training in an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service where he is enjoying the feeling of community that it offers.

Training in Western NSW, Dr Rosie Nielsen has found herself supported by passionate supervisors who have inspired her to become an holistic and capable GP.

Wanting to learn more about Aboriginal health and culture, Dr Glendon Inkster’s training in Aboriginal health has included outreach and community-based activities making the experience rewarding and always interesting.

With a love of statistics, problem solving and teaching, Dr Tim Tse is undertaking an academic term to understand the protective effect of influenza vaccination on subsequent acute myocardial infarction and stroke.

ACRRM registrar Dr Sylvia Lim is exploring how rural general practitioners can be advocates for change, with a particular focus on clinical waste reduction in rural health services.

An interest in refugee health has contributed to Dr Shakif Shakur undertaking an academic term to understand the perceptions and attitudes of African refugee men residing in Greater Western Sydney towards sexual health, reproductive health, and HIV/AIDS.

Dr Colin Gunter is a GP supervisor based in Carlingford. He generously shares his knowledge on deprescribing inappropriate medicine in older patients with GP Synergy registrars as a presenter at the annual Fusion workshop.

Believing that GPs play an important role in Closing the Gap, Dr Yliana Dennett sought out an Aboriginal health post, then finding endless learning opportunities she stayed on for a second term.

Deliberately seeking out out an Aboriginal health training post, Dr Nada Abu Alrub has found the broad scope of practice and the emphasis on holistic medicine rewarding. She’s also very happy to be part of the local community. 

Dr Simon Holliday is a GP and GP supervisor in Taree. After a tilt at politics in a State election defined by politicians posturing on tougher drug policies, he joined business and politics and developed a special interest in addiction medicine. He regularly shares his knowledge with GP registrars at educational workshops.

During GP training Dr Lalana Kapuwatte has met many patients with mental illness, mostly young adults. This experience inspired her to undertake procedural training in mental health, she is now looking forward to using those skills in the community.

Originally from Canberra, Dr Daniel Rudd has moved to Western NSW for GP training, he is loving it there and intends to stay for the long term. As the Registrar Liaison Officer for Western NSW, he also wants to ensure other registrars have a positive experience when they train in the subregion.

Having grown up, studied and worked in Sydney, Dr Matthew Chan found himself in New England/Northwest for his GP training, now he’s in no hurry to get back to the city. He shares his experience of moving to the country town of Gunnedah, a place he hadn’t visited before he started GP training.

Procedural GP registrar Dr Uri Harrington, and his supervisor Dr David Harwood, had very different journeys to becoming rural GPs. Both now enjoy living and working in the Western NSW town of Parkes – Uri as a GP Anaesthetist and David as a GP Anaesthetist and Obstetrician.

Dr Anne Murray and Dr Jacinta Spry are both passionate about general practice and training doctors in their home town of Port Macquarie.

Life as a GP in Western NSW may not have been what Dr Caroline Ivey had envisaged in her future, but she loves living near Wellington and working as a GP in an Aboriginal community controlled health service where she is completing her Extended Skills term in Aboriginal Health.

Dr Sally Johnson grew up on a property outside of Walgett and is passionate about ensuring rural communities have opportunities for high quality health care.

Believing healthcare providers need to take responsibility for the impact we have on the environment, Dr Kathleen Wild is surveying GP attitudes towards environmental sustainability in general practices and barriers perceived towards improvement.

A special interest in geriatric medicine and dementia has led Dr Ashwin Kaniah to researching deprescribing of potentially inappropriate  medications in patients over 65 years.

Dr Millie Holbeck has made the move from Sydney to Wagga Wagga for her GP training after falling in love with the area and realising it was the perfect place to enjoy being part of a community and become the type of GP she always wanted to be.

After living and working in Sydney, Dr Jessica Chapman moved to Tamworth and completed her extended skills placement in palliative care. Her interest in regional and rural medicine, and being part of the community, has made general practice a logical choice and Tamworth the place she now calls home.

City born and raised, a love of country music and lifestyle was the impetus for Dr Sally Street and her husband to retrain for life in a rural community. She is in her third term of GP training, loving life and working as a GP obstetrician in Western NSW.

Dr Marcus Hayward, who is in his second term of GP training in Bathurst, grew up in Sydney but has longer term plans to settle in Western NSW.

An interest in the field of reproductive health led to Dr Rachel Turner investigating the prescribing behaviour of contraceptive options by GP registrars.

After working as a physiotherapist in the UK, Dr James Marshall retrained with the aim of becoming a rural GP, he is now a GP registrar in rural NSW. Tell us a bit about yourself? I grew up on a farm near Black Mountain just north of Armidale, so not far from where I’m now…

Training as a rural generalist Dr Paul Lam chose to develop additional skills in palliative care because of the difference he can make in alleviating the suffering of people with terminal illnesses.

The lure of working as a GP in a rural community, combined with using her anaesthetics training in a rural hospital, has made Moree a good choice for Dr Lisa Simpson.

Training with the Royal Flying Doctor Service Dr Chris Diehm is enjoying the variety of medicine he sees in rural and remote general practice as well as utilising his procedural skills in aeromedical retrievals.

All GPs like to see their patients smile, for GP registrar Dr Hasan Sarwar it’s a mission that regularly takes him to Bangladesh as part of a voluntary Australian medical team he co-founded with a colleague.

Dr Nicole Smith, grew up in Sydney but moved to Dubbo to do a year of training at the School of Rural Health, enjoying the lifestyle so much she has returned for GP training.

Dr Lauren-Marie Vernon has moved to New England/Northwest for her first term of GP training – Moree is providing the perfect balance of hospital and practice work for an aspiring GP Anaesthetist.

I was very lucky to have very inspiring GP supervisors as a registrar, and I would like to try to help our registrars see the joy and the challenges of general practice in a supportive environment.

Expanding on her interest in research Dr Rebekah Hoffman, is researching junior doctors under stress and why they get burnt out, and what are the protective factors that can prevent burn out.

Being based in Bathurst has meant GP registrar Dr Kelly Bradley has made great local connections. Her time is divided between her young family, playing hockey, training as a GP as well as working at the local hospital as a GP Obstetrician.

Dr Deborah Peterson is training as a GP at the Orange Aboriginal Medical Service where she has found her passion is working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Dr Phyo Kyaw received the highest AKT score amongst GP Synergy registrars this term. His supervisor Dr Paul Saad is passionate about rural health care and training registrars in Quirindi.

Dr Paul Barnett is training on the Far South Coast of NSW and relishes being able to go for a surf before and after work, his supervisor Dr Gudrun (Gundi) Muller-Grotjan has lived all over the world but has fallen in love with the small town of Narooma.

Dr Camilla King has moved from Tamworth to Inverell (200 km north) to take up a training post in Aboriginal health – having experienced city life her goal is to be a rural GP.

With a passion for rural health and preventative medicine, starting GP training in Western NSW has been the perfect fit for Dr Nina Dowling.

Although training in Wagga Wagga wasn’t part of his original plans, Dr Thomas Armour is now glad that he did, and is looking forward to continuing his training in the Murrumbidgee & ACT subregion.

Dr Kerrie Stewart was the 2017 Western NSW Registrar of the Year, recently receiving her fellowship, she is practising in Parkes and working with GP Synergy as a medical educator.

Dr Suha Tazami undertook her GP training in New England/Northwest, having previously worked with outreach programs in the Palestinian West Bank and Jordan Valley, she is now excited to be working in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.

Wagga Wagga local, Dr Katherine Smith, has been training and working in the regional city since her final year of medical school. Deciding to stay in the Murrumbidgee & ACT subregion for GP training was an easy decision.

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to train and work in an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service (ACCHS)? We asked six GPs currently training and working in an ACCHS in New England/Northwest about their experience.

Dr Sally Plunkett is currently training in GP community term at Gulgong, a  small town just over an hour’s drive from the large regional centre of Dubbo.

Hear from three rural GPs on what it’s like to live and train in Western NSW.

Are you wondering about GP training in the New England/Northwest subregion? Three registrars undertaking their training in the subregion told us what they think.

Dr Hugh Le Lievre is undertaking his GP training in Orange, the five-minute commute to work and the incredible local food and wine are just some of the benefits of living in Western NSW. Dr Le Lievre is also a GP Synergy Registrar Liaison Officer.

As the first registrar in NSW to train in a post accredited to offer advanced specialised training in child and adolescent health, Dr Erica Watson is looking forward to being a procedural GP and reducing some of the burden that rural families with unwell children often face in having to travel to seek treatment. Why…

As an elite swimmer, Dr Anna Windsor competed at two Summer Olympics and three world championships. After retiring from competitive swimming her next challenge was studying medicine and becoming a GP. Dr Windsor is now GP Synergy’s Regional Head of Education Western NSW.

Dr Domonic Manassa made the move from the big smoke to train as a GP in Cooma just over a year ago; he likes it so much he and his wife have recently bought a house and intend to stay. One of his supervisors, Dr Andrew Egan, is a longstanding procedural GP who has been supervising GP registrars for more than 28 years.

Working as a GP registrar in a health co-op combines two passions for Dr Jessica Nathan – affordable health care and being a GP.

Tamworth-based GP and GP Synergy medical educator, Dr David Lockart enjoys the contrast that being a medical educator gives to clinical practice, and he has some great advice for doctors thinking about GP training. 

Dr Hamze Hamze arrived in Moree in 2013 as a GP registrar, four years on he’s passionate about living in Moree and working at Pius X Aboriginal Corporation, where he is also a GP supervisor.

After obtaining a rural cadetship, Wollongong born Dr Rachael Fikkers chose to do her internship and residency years in Wagga Wagga Base Hospital. The experience she gained in rural medicine and the rural lifestyle have been why she has also undertaken her GP training in Wagga Wagga and decided to stay.

The diversity of experience gained from working in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health put Dr Toby Jackson in good stead for his Royal Australian College of General Practitioners fellowship exam – he was the highest scoring NSW and ACT candidate in his cohort.

Meet rural GP registrar Dr Edward Lee. Encouraged by his rural GP supervisor, he decided to upskill in obstetrics to meet the local community need. He found this terrifying at first, but it’s now the favourite part of his job.