Country practice just what doc ordered

Ten of the State’s best and brightest medical students have arrived in Albany and are ready to practise medicine.

The Notre Dame University and University of Western Australia students will spend this year in Albany working with local GPs, Albany Health Campus and the community as part of the Rural Medical School of WA Albany program.

Dr Carly Roxburgh said the goal of the program was to encourage more doctors to practise medicine in the country.

“We are trying to encourage students who are interested in rural areas to experience medicine away from the city,” she said. “The program is quite attractive for them as they get a lot more one-on-one experience with mentors.

“These students will experience rural medicine and medicine in all the different fields.”

“We have seen these med students come back and practise medicine in regional towns after their experiences with Rural Clinical School.”

One of the medical students in the program, Pippa Campbell said she was thrilled to be in Albany for the year.

“For me, it wasn’t really an option not to apply for the program,” she said.

“I thought the opportunity would be amazing and I am really looking forward to getting out of Perth to experience working in a small regional town.

“I have heard from students above me that have done the program that it is so different down here than in the city.

“They said the doctors appreciate us being here and are excited to teach us, so I am looking forward to my stay here.”