A record 54 medical interns will begin work across Darling Downs Health hospitals this month.
It marks the largest cohort of interns starting since the program began and they will soon provide care for the entire community.
With a diverse range of locations and work environments, the interns will experience the demands of urban, rural and remote medicine.
Darling Downs Health chief executive Annette Scott PSM said the big number of medical interns would play a crucuial role in ensuring Darling Downs Health continues to provide an excellent experience for patients and their families.
“Over the next 12 months these interns will play such an important role in the patient journey,“ she said.
“This program provides them an excellent opportunity to interact with patients and their families in very practical ways, while also continuing to learn with the support of their new colleagues.
“These foundation years for medical graduates are exceptionally important and I’m confident they’ll have a positive experience at Darling Downs Health.
“I’m so pleased to welcome this latest cohort of interns to the health service and we look forward to working together with them to achieve great outcomes for the community and the health service.”
Former Hunter Valley resident Dr Murray Thompson chose Darling Downs Health after fielding multiple offers from other hospital and health services, locally and interstate.
“I got a few different offers, including in my home state of NSW but, ultimately, I decided to come back to Darling Downs Health as it was such a welcoming environment during my placement at Goondiwindi Hospital last year,“ he said.
“And, it is such a beautiful area, the landscape, the community and the events that happen in the area.“
After growing up in Leyburn and attending local schools, new graduate Dr Nicola Murphy has recently completed her degree and is excited to complete the medical intern program at Darling Downs Health.
“I’m really excited to be able to return to the Darling Downs,“ she said.
“I have been away for about 10 years while I’ve been studying, it means so much to be in the comfort of my local community but as well give back to the community that supported me as I went through my studies.“
James Cook University graduate and former Moree local Dr Sarah Barton is excited to pursue a rural generalist pathway that will see her provide care in regional and rural environments.
“Growing up in Moree I can definitely appreciate the necessity for rural generalists having a multitude of skills from emergency medicine to GP to an advance skill.
“I’m hoping to do anaesthetics as my advance skill just to provide rural communities with a wide range of care.
“Goondiwindi isn’t too far from where I grew up and I’m really excited to pursue the rural generalist pathway. There is no better place to live then in a rural community.”
The 12-month graduate program will allow the medical interns to put all they’ve learned at university into practise.
“I can’t wait to see what these graduates accomplish during their time at Darling Downs Health and I wish them all the very best,” Ms. Scott said.
