Destination Medicine Podcast

When Lily Hogan was growing up on her family’s sheep and cropping farm at Bethunga in the Riverina, she had no-one to influence her towards medicine. But the idea started to dawn on her while she was still at school and she decided to go for it. Why? She learned early, on the farm, how the right care can resolve dangerous situations. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Not everyone thinks the city has it all. Associate Professor Mark Arnold left Sydney to pursue the immense opportunities he saw in Dubbo in the clinical teaching space and in his chosen field of rheumatology. Now he’s busier than ever, working hard to develop the medical program that will be offered in Dubbo in 2022, and sharing his passion and expertise with students and professional bodies...

She was told to lower her sights, that medicine was too big a stretch. But that just made Leah-Monique Dowling all the more determined to achieve her lifelong dream of becoming a doctor – and that’s despite the years spent in foster care while her parents struggled with physical and mental health issues. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Paul Lunney knew he’d made the right decision to move from registered nursing to becoming a GP. What he didn’t know until his 3rd year placement in Dubbo was the attraction of working in a rural setting. He was determined to go back, and now he’s established himself as a GP there, thoroughly enjoying the professional and personal rewards that Dubbo offers. See omnystudio.com/l...

Even in primary school Bree Gardoll had started thinking about being a doctor. There were no doctors in her Goondiwindi family but with the encouragement of family and friends, and with a lot of planning, her application into medical school was successful and she’s now well on her way. How did she do it? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How does a city girl and professional cyclist find a passion for rural medicine – and how could not speaking Norwegian change an entire career path? But that’s been the case for one student whose fateful choice to embrace medicine has taken her to Wagga Wagga – and she wouldn’t be anywhere else. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do you do when you love jazz saxophone and you love medicine? Both, of course! That’s what Anna Leckie did in pursuing a first degree in music before heading straight into medicine. Now she has no regrets on either front - and returning to the School of Rural Health in Orange as a 4th year post graduate medical student has provided her with the best of both worlds. See omnystudio.com/li...

Radiography seemed likely, then there was a stab at architecture. But it was medicine that finally attracted Angus McGinness to his long term career. His biggest message: you don’t have to be the-best-of-the-best to gain entry. There are many pathways into medical school – you just need to investigate your best options, understand the processes involved, and get going! See omnystudio.c...

Whoever said a rural life would be quieter? Dr Sarah Wenham started her medical career in the city of Manchester in the UK. After qualifying in palliative care, she moved to Blackpool with a catchment area of 330,000 people. Then, to Broken Hill. The contrast couldn’t have been more extreme. But Sarah has embraced her role as the only specialist palliative care physician in the region. And s...

Dr Sarah Moore covered huge tracks in her career development in WA. But she never lost track of her colleagues and mentors, nor of her love for obstetrics and the privilege, as she calls it, of bringing babies into the world. And as a rural doctor at heart, Sarah has found her place in Busselton WA, but her expertise takes her far further afield. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information...

Australia may have one of the highest skin cancer rates in the world, but where are the dermatologists? It's a big issue in rural and remote areas where demand for skin specialists is high and the waiting lists long. Orange-based dermatologist Dr Michelle McRae has her own story to tell as she looks at easier paths to rural dermatology for the next generation of trainees. See omnystudio.com/listen...

In retrospect it was the perfect vocational choice. But Dr Daniel Stewart just didn't know it as he rowed hard and fast for Australia, chopping and changing university courses before finally giving medicine a crack. Now based in Dubbo, with a four-minute commute to work, he couldn't be happier.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Dr Sean Hogan was seeking a placement for the last two years of his degree, Wagga Wagga was right at the bottom of his preference list. Reluctantly he took the placement. That was in 2010. Sean's still there and his views about working rurally have undergone a complete transformation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lismore-based surgeon, Sally Butchers, is living proof that you can create a distinguished career as a sought-after surgeon outside the major cities. With a daily commute of less than 15 minutes, and the feeling that she's making a tangible difference to her close-knit local community, Sally is at the peak of her surgical career without sacrificing her lifestyle. Sally shares the words of advice s...

It's a courageous career move when a young medical student presents before Fellows of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons on the contentious topic of barriers to women in surgery. But that's what young Sarah McLain did at the College's Annual Congress last year. What did she tell them, and how was her message received? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you think the TV hospital drama ER could entice you into a career in emergency medicine, take a note from Associate Professor Tim Baker, a rural emergency physician who talks passionately about this field of medicine in the rural setting and the sorts of pathways that can lead you there. In this episode of Destination Medicine, you'll discover that when you can't rely on the resources of a majo...

Go rural if you really want to make an impact on your medical career. That's the view of Joel Riley, a dual Fellow in General Medicine and Rheumatology, whose career pathway has taken him to rural and regional New South Wales. Joel has always felt strongly about access to health care for people who live in the country and as a doctor he has taken his skills and knowledge to where it is needed most...

Dr Teena Downton's specialisation is a great example of the diversity you can have in your work, as a GP, based in the country. You may have heard of the term ‘Rural Generalist' but what does it mean and what pathway do you take to be one? In this episode of Destination Medicine get ready to be motivated as Teena speaks about the many hats she wears from working at the local Emergency Depart...

Dr Tim Duncan is an aeromedical retrieval specialist, a GP, Anaesthetist and a film maker. Only two years after graduating from medicine, Tim felt disconnected from who he really was and took a break from medicine to study film. Before pursuing a career in film, Tim decided to do one last locum at Katherine, in the Northern Territory. After a car accident on a silent and remote highway, Tim though...

Dr. Theresa Pitts was fortunate enough to receive a John Flynn Scholarship whilst she was studying medicine and spent two weeks each year of her degree on the beautiful Flinders Island with the local GP; and that's when her love for country medicine was confirmed. In this episode of Destination Medicine find out the benefits of working as a Paediatrician in the country and the joy of no traffic li...

Dr Justin Gladman is a descendant of the Wiradjuri people and is living the dream of working and living in his home town of Broken Hill for the Royal Flying Doctor Service. In this episode of Destination Medicine find out how by putting the right support systems in place and having a lot of determination and drive can make that journey a lot less bumpy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...