Destination Medicine Podcast

For Pippa Kensit, medicine always beckoned, especially because public health is where her heart is. A passion confirmed early on as she travelled abroad, and then through rural and reginal Australia. But it was only after becoming a nurse and going through her own back surgery, that she finally decided to follow her dream of becoming a doctor. Pippa’s story is one of incredible focus, passio...

From playing gigs in pubs to delivering babies in the Outback, Liam Halford’s journey to medicine was anything but typical. Growing up in Gawler, South Australia, with no family history in medicine, Liam discovered his passion for rural healthcare through placements in Maleny and Broken Hill. He shares how hands-on experiences, tight-knit communities, and unexpected adventures — includ...

Growing up in rural Tasmania, Lonnie Schramm never imagined becoming a doctor — especially not in the Northern Territory. But a move to Darwin, a psychology degree and a leap of faith into medicine changed everything. Lonnie shares her unconventional journey, from self-doubt to studying medicine in Alice Springs, working with First Nations communities, building a rural health student society...

Always a country kid at heart who is training in emergency medicine, Dr Brittney Wicksteed is already emerging as a key leader in rural health in her home state of Western Australia. She’s now WA Rural Doctors in Training Chair, as well as the Vice President of the Rural Doctors Association of WA. It was Dr Wicksteed’s journey through medical school that really helped her to realise ru...

After two decades working to heal the planet, Dr Stefanie Pidcock made a huge change, pivoting to a career of healing individuals in a rural setting. And this ecologist-turned-medic hasn’t looked back. Dr Pidcock shares her journey to healthcare, describing why she enthusiastically recommends rural internships, with their high level of training in some of the most beautiful locations in Aust...

Living where people know your name, and are keen to stop and chat, is high on Dr Courtney-Anne Blackhall’s priority list for life, as is having a broad-based career in this friendly environment. So the Northern Rivers, with its beaches, restaurants and cool sea breezes is the perfect location to work as a rural GP. Courtney-Anne shares the story of her journey from Perth to Lismore, discussi...

Growing up a city kid, it hadn’t dawned on Dr Emma Jones that she could and would dedicate herself to being a Rural Generalist. Then a conversation with other medical students about the benefits of living regionally led her to the John Flynn Prevocational Doctor Program. Taking part in rural placements ignited her passion for regional healthcare. She hasn’t looked back. Now a GP in Ger...

A frightening experience at the age of 16 prompted Jack Howard to study medicine. He was on a country road when his grandfather experienced chest pains, and Jack didn’t know how to help except to drive at speed to the nearest country hospital. With limited guidance and no real medical role models, Jack was forced to navigate the complexities of medical school applications alone and says he &...

It's certainly not a common trajectory — from an established career in graphic design and marketing to medicine — but that’s the extraordinary career path of Dr Anna Western, a Rural Clinical School of WA alumna now working in that state’s Goldfields region. Anna discusses her choices and the determination that was required to undertake medicine while raising three young ch...

Soaring to the heights of rural and remote medicine — and not just in RFDS planes — Dr Jessica Martyn has enjoyed an extremely varied and exciting career. Dr Martyn, who is now the Head of Unit at the Port Augusta Hospital Emergency Department, has a passion for emergency medicine and regional healthcare that was shaped by her unique upbringing, hands-on medical placements, and early c...

From learning to winch out of a helicopter to providing critical care in the most demanding circumstances, Dr Katie Barnes spends her career undertaking risky retrieval missions for patients. It’s an extraordinary specialisation, and one she says can be terrifying. Growing up in Byron Bay, Katie is training as an emergency medicine specialist and retrieval doctor in her home Northern Rivers...

The pristine beaches, the effortless rural lifestyle and participating in a welcoming community. It was all too much for Dr Isaac Taylor to resist. So he’s returned to the place he grew up in to serve the communities of South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula. In this episode of 'Destination Medicine', Dr Taylor shares his journey from childhood to coming home as a GP registrar. He also discusses his une...

It’s hard to beat the regional doctor lifestyle. That’s according to veteran Dubbo GP Dr Andrew Moreton, who has dedicated his career to lifetime care in regional NSW. He’s had the opportunity to bring up his children on a small property just a few minutes from town while practicing a varying professional life and contributing to the community. In this episode of Destination Medicine, Dr Moreton s...

If you are planning to practice in an area the size of South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula, it helps if you buy a plane and learn to fly. That’s how Dr Scott Lewis brings crucial GP and anaesthetist services to his huge patch of rural and remote Australia. In this episode of Destination Medicine, Dr Lewis describes his rewarding and varied professional life. He discusses the impact of his early exper...

There is so much to be learned from the vastly experienced Dr John Floridis, a pharmacist-turned rural generalist and advanced emergency medicine trainee. As well as being a rural and remote family doctor, John is a GP anaesthetist and a medical retrieval consultant who spent almost a decade servicing remote communities (and the citizens of Darwin) in the Top End. In this episode of Destination Me...

We all owe something to our mothers, but medical student Georgia Goodhew is especially grateful to hers. When Georgia finally realised a girl could become a doctor, it was her mother who stood beside her in the face of many detractors. In this episode of Destination Medicine, Georgia shares her journey from growing up in Narrabri to pursuing her dream of becoming a rural doctor. Fascinated by the...

Running her own practice in a “top ten” tiny town, Dr Emmy Hennell is a rural GP in a position to sit back and survey her great achievements, wrapped in the arms of a supportive community. From her home in Tumby Bay, South Australia, Dr Hennell shares her extraordinary story, from growing up as the 11th of 13 children in an Adelaide family, to becoming a dedicated rural GP. After nearly leaving me...

Medical student Grace Hollow is an astounding advertisement for home schooling. Having grown up on a farm in a small rural town in South Australia and being home schooled by her parents, Grace has almost attained her dream of becoming a rural GP. In this episode of Destination Medicine, Grace Hollow describes her journey from the application process through to the benefits of rural placements, and...

An ambition to find a challenging position in life, where close teamwork and hands-on experience go together, has led Dr Robert Easter to an incredibly interesting and varied specialist career. In this episode of Destination Medicine, Dr Easther, a consultant anaesthetist working in NSW and Tasmania, shares his journey and dedication to rural healthcare. Starting medicine late, he found his passio...

Studying in regional Australia is a “huge blessing” according to Shray Sinha, who is undertaking his qualifications in Dubbo, NSW. Shray swapped engineering for medicine to follow his family’s culture of care. In this episode of Destination Medicine, Shray shares his unique journey from growing up in Dubbo to studying medicine in his hometown. He discusses the advantages of rural medical education...

Nicholas Mott is living his medical student dream. He has been enjoying stimulating and varied study and training in outback Broken Hill while also enjoying a busy and “very fun” social, cultural and sporting life there. In this episode of Destination Medicine, Nicholas shares his journey from growing up in the small town of Bega, NSW, to pursuing a career in medicine through the University of Wol...

Andre McDuling is on the verge of realising a decades-long dream: to become a doctor who caters for a rural community. Andre shares his transformative journey from IT specialist to medical doctor via several other degrees. He describes how he navigated through travel and study life, his persistent efforts, and the challenges of medical school applications. It’s a story of dedication, perseverance...

Dr Tau Loseli is living his dream: a (literally) hands-on medical practice in regional Australia which affords him to so much more time to spend with his wife and children. This son of Tongan immigrants started out pulling vegetables from the ground with his family. But Tau was inspired by the community respect given to a family mentor and set about making his way toward the same stature. In this...

In this episode of Destination Medicine, we hear this inspiring story of a pharmacist, Dan Kendall, from Dubbo who decided to pursue his dream. Daniel shares his journey to medicine, highlighting the pivotal moments and supportive community that encouraged him to take the leap. He discusses the unique advantages of studying and practicing medicine in a rural area, including the tight-knit communit...

What’s it like to decide to sit the GAMSAT and apply for medicine from another career? And is regional life really what it’s cracked up to be? Student Doctor Lizzie Del Gigante can provide some insights. In this episode, Lizzie shares her journey from radiography, reflecting on the diverse opportunities within healthcare. Her experience working closely with ED doctors and orthopaedic registrars sp...