30 Words of Wisdom

Words of Wisdom by awesome medical students around Australia

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RURAL PLACEMENTS

Be friendly to your colleagues in the country. They are smaller cohorts, so look out for each other — share experiences, take turns in procedures, and life will be much easier this year! Alastair Weng, MD4 Melbourne

Rural placement will offer you so many opportunities to be involved. Say yes to all of them!

Ella Johnson, 5D Monash Immerse yourself, whether it’s in the hospital or the community. Joining a community group or sports team really helps settle you into your home away from home, and understand your patients’ context. Jasmine Elliott, 4C Monash

It’s tough to break into rural communities, but when you do, it’s worth the toil. Play a sport, go to the pub, put yourself out there and get stuck in. You’ll either come back to the city the better for it, or fall in love with the country and stay there for good!

Will Choy, Year 4 UNSW

Smile and give it everything you’ve got; you’ll get out as much as you put in. The more you engage in the hospital, and the community, the more you’ll learn and the better connected you’ll be. Maddy Green, 5D Monash

Don’t be afraid to ask questions on ward rounds, and speak to patients. Asking questions can be daunting at first, but it shows you have an interest in what’s going on. And patients also love to chat, and are enthusiastic about training the next generation of doctors. Claire Demeo, MD4 Melbourne It is completely normal to feel overwhelmed and out of your depth. We are great at only remembering the negatives — so each night write, or tell your fellow placement buddies one thing you knew, got right or felt good about.

Go for walks to familiarise yourself with your community — it helps you feel more connected. Also, engage in conversation with patients about the community, they can teach you a lot!

Edwina Fry, MD3 Deakin

COMING FROM A RURAL BACKGROUND

Being from the country, you carry some awesome experiences about rural life! Don’t hesitate to share these and help shape the discourse around rural health. You may go through some tough changes (like moving away from home), but these offer a unique opportunity to grow and better understand yourself as a future doctor. Irene Roy, 3B Monash

Rural roots are a wonderful asset in medicine — your background will help you connect with patients in ways that your metropolitan peers can only dream of. Embrace the experience and growth associated with your new ‘city’ lifestyle too; broadening your horizons will make you an incredibly well-rounded doctor.

Laura Beaumont, MD3 Western Sydney

Coming from a rural background is an asset. University can teach you to pass exams, but lived experience will give you the ability to connect with patients.

Ella Johnson, 5C Monash

I felt like a small fish in a very large pond — the campus had a larger population than my home town. Stick with it, and use your story as a strength rather than a weakness! Jasmine Elliott, 4C Monash

Coming from a rural background, I felt a huge amount of imposter syndrome when I started medicine. Remember that you deserve to be here, make the most of every opportunity, and use your experience to become an amazing future doctor.

Claire Demeo, MD4 Melbourne

Each of us arrive from a different background and, therefore, have something unique to offer our peers. When we share our experiences, we help shape both ourselves and those around us into more wellrounded and aware clinicians.

Edwina Fry, MD3 Deakin

You are not alone. Sometimes being rural, you might feel that way — but you’re not. Know that there are other students who are doing med from ‘woop woop’, and all of us have something unique to offer. Don’t doubt yourself, get involved, and enjoy the ride. Sarah Steve, 3B Monash

LIVED EXPERIENCE INPIRES JCU GRADUATE TO CREATE CHANGE

By Dr Faith Chitongo Written by Andrew Cramb, James Cook University Communications Coordinator

For Dr Faith Chitongo, growing up in the rural north-east of Zimbabwe exposed her to the deadly consequences of inadequate health care services. For her, medicine isn’t just a job — and goes beyond being a passion. Inspired to act, she completed a Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery at James Cook University (JCU). After graduating in 2020, Dr Chitongo is now right where she wants to be, putting her new skills to use in regional and rural hospitals.

Witnessing the impact of preventable illness:

I grew up in the rural district of Wedza in Mashonaland East, Zimbabwe. Health care services were limited in this remote area, and deadly diseases were rife. From a young age, I witnessed the premature deaths of relatives and friends from otherwise manageable tropical diseases such as cholera and malaria, and medical conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and HIV/AIDS.

Education was emphasised in my family. My father strived to further his education here in Australia, allowing me the opportunity to come here at the age of 11. I knew I would go to university, but was, for a long time, uncertain of what I would do. In Year 11, I was inspired by a family friend who was a doctor in regional Victoria. He spoke of the limited access to healthcare in rural areas, and of the need for more doctors to redress the gap between country and city areas. His stories about patients were fascinating and stirred something in me. I aspire to be like him, and make a positive impact on rural and remote communities.

Pursuing a career that makes a difference:

Dr Faith Chitongo at JCU Townsville

A university with a shared commitment to rural and remote health:

Being equipped with the skills to hit the ground running:

I wanted to study at a university that shared my outlook on health. With a strong focus on rural and remote areas, JCU’s College of Medicine and Dentistry was the perfect choice. JCU, throughout my degree, has provided me with many opportunities to explore the various aspects of country medicine. I’ve been on clinical placements in Ayr, Townsville, Mount Isa, Boulia, Mackay and Atherton. These placements offered me a chance to explore different specialties, network with other health professionals, improve my self-confidence and grow my sense of responsibility. My most memorable clinical placement was my fourth-year rural placement in Mount Isa and Boulia. It was there that I saw, most pointedly, the social and emotional burdens that disease imposes upon rural folk.

My final year of medical school was a period of great personal and professional growth. Not having to worry or stress about exams allowed me to focus wholly on my clinical involvement and development. I spent the first 20 weeks of my final year in the Atherton Tablelands, and the rest at the Mackay Base Hospital. In Atherton, I got the opportunity to improve my confidence in consulting patients, clinical reasoning and performing procedural skills. At Mackay Base Hospital, I completed rotations in emergency medicine, anaesthetics, respiratory medicine and mental health. I gained valuable skills — ones that I will use not only as an intern, but throughout my career.

Overall, JCU has equipped me with all of the foundations I need to start my career as a doctor. I now aspire to further my knowledge and skills, and be the best doctor I can for my patients.

Faith at the Mackay Base Hospital

Getting straight to work where I am needed:

I was never bored outside the hospital. On my Atherton placement, I got to explore the beautiful Tablelands. On weekends, friends and I travelled between waterfalls, tea farms, and fresh food markets in nearby towns. It was so much fun! My friend and I even recorded ourselves dancing across some popular destinations in the Tablelands (https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=lWRI5XqxiF8).

I am completing my internship with the Mater Private Hospital, Townsville. As a Mater intern, I get the opportunity to work in private, public (Townsville University Hospital) and rural (Mount Isa) hospitals. I am always looking for ways to develop my skills and experience new environments. I am grateful for this opportunity, and I’m looking forward to helping out the Townsville and Mount Isa communities.

Faith meeting Malcolm Turnbull

To those commencing their medical journey, though it poses its challenges and trials, with a good study-life balance, perseverance and resilience, it’s all worth it in the end!

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