A Torres Strait Islander Doctor’s Path to Healing

By Janine Lucas James Cook University Communications Coordinator

Dr Nathan Passi is an emergency medicine registrar at Townsville University Hospital.

JCU graduate Dr Nathan Passi wants to inspire a new generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander doctors, and be a changemaker in the field of Indigenous health.

The Townsville University Hospital emergency medicine registrar is proud of his Torres Strait Islander heritage.

For him, the theme of NAIDOC Week in 2021, ‘Heal Country’, holds a special significance. His family are direct descendants of Sam and David Passi, two of the five Murray (Mer) Islanders whose battle for land rights resulted in the landmark Mabo ruling.

“Country represents identity, spirituality and connection,” he says.

“Country is very important to my family and people, and my ancestors fought for recognition of Indigenous land rights and identity as plaintiffs in the Mabo case. I would encourage people to read about Indigenous history, to learn about your local area, and to really connect with the country we are so fortunate to live on.”

Taking time to connect

Dr Passi’s training in emergency medicine has included two rotations to Palm Island, the largest Indigenous community in Queensland. He says this experience has had a significant impact upon his career.

“Emergency medicine is a fast-paced specialty. It’s all about quick assessments and decisions. No one wants to come to the Emergency Department, and for most people it is the worst part of their day. Sometimes, due to the nature of the ED environment, it can be more difficult to form strong connections with patients,” he says.

“In Mount Isa, I worked with amazing FACEMs (Fellows of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine) like Dr Julia DeBoos and Dr Zafar Smith. They showed me the power of taking the time to connect with patients, particularly those of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent. But it was my time on Palm Island where I was really able to put this lesson into action.”

“It was really eye opening to see how positively the community and Indigenous staff received me, and how well they responded to having an Indigenous doctor. It all stemmed from the time I took with patients and their families. My time there has made the biggest impact upon my career so far.”

“As an Indigenous doctor, I am in a unique position to have a powerful influence upon my patients. Through my interactions, I’m hopeful that I can help break down barriers — to improve access to health services, encourage positive lifestyle changes,

and hopefully show young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids that they, too, can become doctors.”

Conversations about change

Dr Passi has recently assisted Dr Jon Hodge in establishing a pathway for Indigenous junior doctors at the Townsville University Hospital. He is also the cochair of the ‘Transforming EDs Towards Cultural Safety Committee’ at Townsville University Hospital, and is a trainee representative on the Australasian College of Emergency Medicine Indigenous Health Committee.

He says he has become more active in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health as a result of his clinical experiences in Mount Isa and on Palm Island. Writing in the Emergency Medicine Australasia journal in 2018, Dr Passi said it was important for Australians to acknowledge the differences between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. He also emphasised the importance of understanding the continued influence and effects of colonisation, dispossession and the Stolen Generation.

“We forget that there were close to 500 Indigenous nations across Australia at the time of colonisation, each with a distinct culture and different belief systems. I try hard to have a conversation about that with my Indigenous patients — to better understand who they are and acknowledge where they come from. Our Indigenous patients want to be seen and acknowledged, and want their cultures to be celebrated.”

Born in Mount Isa and raised in Cloncurry and Townsville, Dr Passi was a member of the JCU Medicine Class of 2014. He completed his internship and early residency in Mackay, with multiple rotations to Proserpine Hospital. From there, he moved to Mount Isa as a general practice registrar, and then transitioned into specialist emergency medicine training.

He returned to Townsville in 2018 to continue his training in emergency medicine. He was joined by his wife, Bianca, who is also an ED registrar. The couple have a three-year-old daughter, Eva.

“I continue to be inspired by my motivated colleagues who strive towards closing the gap in health outcomes for Indigenous Australians,” Dr Passi says.