Newsletter March 2014 March 2014
It is with great pleasure that we welcome back the 6th year students to the campus for their final year. We also welcome a new cohort of 3rd and 4th year students to the campus. In general, the students are very happy with the educational program that is being provided and, as always, we are indebted to all of you for providing the academic and clinical components required for teaching medical students. Recently, I met with A/Prof Joe McGirr and A/Prof Cathy Harding from the University of Notre Dame and I’m pleased to report that both Universities are exploring ways in which we can work more collaboratively with respect to medical student teaching. We’ll keep you posted as more integrated programs are developed. The University would like to warmly welcome 2 new staff members to the campus; A/Prof Anthony Samuels, who will be coordinating the Psychiatry teaching and Kathryn Fleming, Administration Assistant. Kathryn will have particular responsibility to the Department of Children’s Health. A/Prof John Preddy, Head of Campus Welcome: A/Prof Anthony Samuels –MBBCh MCrim FRANZCP The UNSW Rural Medical School is very pleased to announce that A/Prof Anthony Samuels, who has been a Conjoint senior lecturer with RMS for several years, has now been appointed Director of Psychiatry at the Wagga Wagga campus. We also congratulate him on another recent major appointment as the MLHD Mental Health District Clinical Director where his responsibilities will include overseeing all medical staff and visiting medical officers working in mental health services across MLHD. A/Prof Samuels is a Fellow with the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists and his extensive career extends across public and private psychiatry in adult general and forensic psychiatry. He acts as a senior consultant forensic psychiatrist to the NSW Health Department, NSW Police, NSW and Queensland health professional councils, Health Care Complaints Commission, Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, Crown Solicitor, Department of Public Prosecutions and the NSW Coroner. Recent building works within Harvey House have now been completed which further expand the School’s teaching areas. The works include the main Lecture Theatre which now has a larger seating capacity and new AV equipment. This area can now accommodate approx. 80 people with new fold back doors opening up the foyer area to extend the seating area.
New Upstairs Lecture Theatre
Also newly completed is the upstairs smaller Lecture Theatre located on the corner of the northern wing. This room was developed by combining two corner rooms and now accommodates up to 30 New look main Lecture students with a computer, 2 screens and video conferencing facility. Theatre downstairs This will be a dedicated teaching area only and a very welcome addition.
WELCOME: Kathryn Fleming—Administration Assistant The Rural Medical School would like to introduce and welcome Kathryn to the School. Kathryn has recently commenced her role and will be supporting the Paediatrics and Women’s Health team at the Wagga Wagga campus. Born and educated in Sydney, Kathryn moved to Wagga in the early 90’s with the NRMA who she remained with until starting her family. In 2007, Kathryn commenced with GEO (the Junee Correctional Centre) where she rotated through a number of positions before finally settling in Inmate Accounts. Kathryn has 3 children, one of whom has just begun a Bachelor of Arts and Science degree at the University of Sydney. Kathryn is very excited to be involved with RMS and is looking forward to meeting you all and welcomes consultants, academics, staff and students to pop in for a chat anytime. Research Projects 2014 There are a range of research projects being conducted this year at the Rural Medical School, Wagga Wagga campus. 3 of these are UNSW student ILP projects being conducted here in Wagga Wagga. A retrospective audit of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in a regional centre Investigators: Milan Edinger-Reeve (student) /Dr Craig McLachlan (Director of Research, RMS Sydney campus) This project aims to perform a retrospective analysis of patients undergoing PCI in Wagga Wagga without onsite cardiac surgery backup with respect to safety and efficacy. A retrospective audit of premature deliveries over 10 years at Wagga Wagga Base Hospital: Changes in outcomes after the introduction of CPAP in regional centres Investigators: Elaine Ng (student) A/Prof Rakesh Seth & A/Prof John Preddy (Paediatrics RMS, Wagga Wagga campus) This project aims to ascertain whether the introduction of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) has had an impact on treatment outcomes for premature infants with respiratory problems. In particular, the project aims to determine whether CPAP has reduced the need to ventilate these infants and/or to transfer them to metropolitan centres. Clinical audit of transfers of patients with traumatic brain injury from the Southern Sector Trauma Region Investigators: Jaime Fox (student) Dr Oran Rigby (Director of Trauma, Murrumbidgee & Southern NSW LHDs), A/Prof Shane Curran (Director Emergency Medicine WWBH) and Ben Hall (Rural Trauma CNC, MLHD & Southern NSW LHD) This project aims to analyse the transfer of patients with traumatic brain injury from the Southern Sector Trauma Region to tertiary referral major trauma centres over the past 12-24 months, and associated outcomes. It aims to analyse the impact and patient demographics associated with bypassing or transferring from WWBH patients with traumatic brain injury, focussing on outcomes from a mortality, morbidity, economic, social and societal cost perspective.
Upcoming Events: Welcome to Wagga Dinner Wagga Wagga Gold Cup UPDATE Presentation:
Fri 4 April 2014, 6.30pm for 7pm Wagga Wagga Country Club, Plumpton Road, Wagga Wagga Fri 2 May 2014, Brunch at the Rural Medical School (ticketed) Wed 7 May 2014 Presented by A/Prof Jane Bleasel, Rheumatologist, RPA, Sydney “Rheumatology in the biologic era”
Future Dates: UNSW Student Information Evening for Schools
Wed 25 June 2014
Exams:
Graduation Dinner ,Magpies Nest
Mon/Tues 24/25 November 2014 Biomed Thu 13 November 2014 Clinical Tue 16 Sept 2014 VIVA Wed 17 Sept 2014 Portfolio Mon 22 September 2014 Fri 31 October 2014
Awards Night, International Hotel
Thur 13 November 2014
Graduation Ceremony, Sydney Campus
Mon 15 December 2014
Phase 2 Year 5 Year 6