3 minute read
I want to be a rural doctor but
If you’re reading this article, there’s a good chance you are passionate about rural health, or have an interest in rural and remote medicine. I’ve never been shy about my passion for rural health. I’ve long known I wanted to work rurally, and being part of the Rural Clinical School (RCS) cemented that belief. In the first few years of my degree, when people asked me what I wanted to do, I was confident in stating that I wanted to be a rural doctor. However, the closer I get to finishing my degree, the closer I am to making real decisions about my career. While my passion for rural health has not waivered, my life circumstances and priorities have changed. I am starting to find myself answering questions about what I want to do with, ‘I want to be a rural doctor but…’.
Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels
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I’ve heard the same from other peers passionate about rural medicine. What follows the ‘but’, however, is different for us all. I’d like to speak to a few that come up frequently.
The lack of specialty training opportunities rurally acts as a barrier to students selecting country internships. Many graduates are also concerned about their ability to move back to the city after extended postings in the country. While there are many wonderful people working to try and improve rural training, it remains a barrier for some junior doctors.
As universities increasingly move to postgraduate models of medicine, students are graduating at an older age. They are therefore more likely to be in longterm relationships, or have children. Having others to think of provides a sizable barrier for students who may otherwise opt to go rurally. Many careers, unfortunately, cannot be undertaken rurally, and it can be difficult to ask your partner or children to move for your own work.
Photo by Larry Snickers from Pexels
Photo by Belle Co from Pexels
We all fear isolation. Knowing the pressures junior doctors face, it is understandable that people want to be close to their friends and family. As I have spent more and more time away from my family and friends over the years, often out on rural placements, I can heavily sympathise with this.
Many people I speak to, especially those in rural clinical schools, often desire to experience practising medicine in the city. Many want to experience their internship in a hospital with sub-specialties and plentiful resources. This is not a selfish move. In reality, if that person is to return to the country in the future, this can be very beneficial for the communities they serve.
Some ardent supporters of rural health may see the above as excuses. We need to recognise that this is not the case. There are real-world barriers that are stopping otherwise passionate people from making the move out bush. The more we contemplate these barriers, and empathise with those who face them, the better we will be at taking away the ‘but’. We all need to work together to overcome these barriers, and find ways to provide flexible alternatives that enable junior doctors to become rural doctors. If you find yourself asking the question, ‘I want to be a rural doctor but…’, remember that you are not alone. It is not something to be ashamed of, nor does it render false your passion for rural health. Remember, going rural is not an all-or-nothing task. If you have a genuine passion for rural health, there are many ways you can work to reduce health inequities, whether you’re in the country or not.
About the Author:
Jasmine Davis is a Doctor of Medicine and Masters of Public Health student at the University of Melbourne. Jasmine holds a current position on the Australian Medical Students Association (AMSA) National Executive as the National Projects Officer. In this role, Jasmine oversees initiatives such as AMSA Queer, AMSA Gender Equity, AMSA Mental Health and the Vampire Cup project. She also facilitates the growth of AMSA’s initiatives through taking on new projects and supporting medical students in their passions. Alongside this, Jasmine is passionate about rural and remote medicine, women’s health and LGBTQIA+ health.
