Wide Bay has again proven to be a popular training ground for young doctors, with 33 newly graduated medical interns launching their careers this year with Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service (WBHHS).
The new recruits will gain a valuable hands-on learning experience working in WBHHS regional hospitals over the next 12 months, under the guidance and supervision of senior clinicians.
Wide Bay Hospital and Health Board Chair Peta Jamieson wished Wide Bay’s new interns well as they embark on the next exciting phase of their medical career.
“Building and developing our own medical workforce is an important goal within our strategic plan, Care, connection, compassion for all,” Ms Jamieson said.
“Our annual medical intern program is a critical part of that vision as WBHHS nurtures and develops doctors starting their careers and on their ongoing journey as junior doctors.”
The new interns are commencing a week-long orientation program to familiarise themselves with Bundaberg, Hervey Bay and Maryborough hospitals, their services and procedures.
They will then begin rotations which will occur in mandatory areas including medicine, surgery and emergency medicine, along with electives in specialised areas such as obstetrics and gynaecology, mental health, and paediatrics.
WBHHS Chief Executive Debbie Carroll congratulated and welcomed the interns to WBHHS and said she looked forward to seeing them hard at work in hospitals across the region.
"These new doctors have already spent years completing their university training, and are now entering an exciting, but demanding, period of their careers,” Ms Carroll said.
“This new group of interns will be important and valued members of our team, helping to meet an unprecedented demand for health services across the Wide Bay and surrounding areas.
“We hope their time with us is rich in learning opportunities that will allow them to develop the necessary skills for their challenging yet incredibly rewarding career choice.”
A total of 18 first-year doctors will be supervised by senior clinicians from Bundaberg Hospital, and another 15 first-year doctors will be undertake the same program at Hervey Bay and Maryborough Hospitals.
Interns with an interest in rural general practice can also join the Queensland Rural Generalist Pathway, in preparation for careers in rural communities such as those across the Wide Bay and North Burnett.
WBHHS Executive Director of Medical Services Dr Scott Kitchener said orientation was an important component in preparing the new doctors to hit the ground running when they start in the clinical areas.
“Throughout the week, they will hear from senior clinicians about topics such as prescribing, infection control, medication safety, and organ donation,” Dr Kitchener said.
“They will work under supervision for the 12 month period as they put their training into practice."
“There’s a lot of information to take in so we also always strive let our new interns know that our Medical Education teams are here and available to support them.”
Dr Kitchener said the long-term recruitment and retention of medical staff was vital to regional communities such as Wide Bay.