Community
25 January, 2024
Boost to medicine
DOZENS of junior doctors have started work in the Far North, including at Tully, Babinda, Mossman, as well as partnering with Royal Flying Doctors Service, and Gurriny Yealamucka Health Service at Yarrabah.
The Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service has welcomed 59 medical interns, who have all selected to work in Far North Queensland after years of studying medicine.
All of the new interns will participate in a week-long orientation program to familiarise themselves with the health service, its clinical practice and procedures.
They’ll then begin the first of five rotations through a variety of units that may include general medicine, surgery, emergency medicine, and additional terms in other specialised areas, to ensure they get diverse experience across areas such as acute and critical care, chronic condition health care and perioperative care.
Among the interns is Sophie Gampe, who was born and bred at Atherton and studied medicine at James Cook University.
She said she was passionate about rural medicine, in particular obstetrics and gynaecology.
“My mum is a doctor at Atherton Hospital, but I didn’t really want to follow in her footsteps until I explored my studying options in uni,” Ms Gampe said.
“I applied for medicine at JCU and got in and discovered a passion for women’s and reproductive health.
“I did a couple of placements in the Cape and Torres Strait region, and really enjoyed it. I have the opportunity now to work in my own community. I just love rural medicine and working within tight, close-knit communities.”
Marco Soncin, who was born and bred at Mareeba, is another JCU medical graduate who has studied in Townsville and Cairns and is looking forward to starting his career locally.
“Growing up in Mareeba, I have a lot of respect for health practitioners,” he said.
“When it came time for me to choose a career, I decided to study medicine, and focus on rural generalism, with a goal of working in a rural hospital.
“Rural medicine has a large scope of practice, and every day is different.
“Living and working in a small town, you get to know your community a bit better compared to a large city. I’m excited to start my career in Cairns.”
