August 24, 2023
Kingaroy Hospital welcomed 15 Year 1 medical students from the University of Queensland (UQ) last weekend, allowing them to get an insight into regional healthcare during a four-day program.
The inaugural Immersion Program is part of UQ’s new Doctor of Medicine Program which has been supported by Darling Downs Health.
For Kate Vance, a Year 1 student, the immersion in a rural environment was something new and exciting which lifted the veils on what it’s like to be a rural doctor.
“I’ve never been to Kingaroy and already I’ve been surprised by how big the hospital is,” she said.
“I’m looking forward to finding out what makes Kingaroy an attractive place for medical staff who choose to work in a rural setting.
“The speciality that I’m wanting to do – ophthalmology – is really needed in regional and rural communities and I’d like to do outreach into these areas.”
Fellow Year 1 student, Chelsea Powis, from Bundaberg, said the rural immersion program was an opportunity to get involved in the region and see what went on, not just in the hospital but also around within the community.
“Rural healthcare is so important and I’m looking forward to seeing what health services are available in a smaller town and how the doctors interact with and care for their patients,” she said.
Executive Director Queensland Rural Medical Service, Dr Hwee Sin Chong, said providing an early opportunity for students to experience rural healthcare environments was a key factor in influencing their future decisions as to where they would like to work.
“We know that by providing an opportunity for students to immerse themselves into regional and rural healthcare settings at the start and throughout their studies can really influence where they choose to work,” she said.
