Record rural medical students staying in region
A record seventeen medical students from The University of Sydney School of Rural Health will undertake their internships locally at Dubbo and Orange Hospitals next year, highlighting a major achievement for the University in rural medical training.
Nine students will be based in Dubbo, while eight will be in Orange. Having completed either one- or two-year rural placements, these medical students have chosen to return for their internships, reinforcing their commitment to serving rural communities.
Among the students based in Dubbo is Maddi Dyall, who joined the School of Rural Health for her third and final years, keen to learn more about rural medicine.
“I’m looking forward to working at Dubbo Hospital; the staff have been incredibly welcoming and approachable. I’ve really enjoyed studying here and love that everything is so close which means less commuting and more time to be involved in the community,” said Maddi.
Orange local Molly Straney completed her final year at the School of Rural Health in Orange and is one of the eight students set to work at Orange Hospital next year.
“I loved the opportunity to immerse myself back into life in the town that I grew up in and which gave me so much. It's been an immense privilege to give back to the community by serving them at the hospital and I look very much forward to being able to make a more significant contribution next year. The quality of the clinical experience and teaching that I got in Orange has been exceptional. I’ve felt well supported, with excellent access to consultant doctors and unrivalled opportunities to learn and be guided through my last year as a medical student, with advice on future life as a doctor,” said Molly.
Professor Catherine Hawke, Head of Clinical School said, "It’s wonderful to see so many of our medical students wanting to stay in our region and practice as rural doctors. They will join many of our former students who are already making a significant impact as doctors in our community. It’s equally heartening to see that many of them return to the School of Rural Health to teach and inspire the next generation of rural doctors.”
The School of Rural Health has been offering rural placements for medical students at The University of Sydney for over 20 years. During this time nearly 1000 medical students have completed rural clinical placements at the School of Rural Health in Dubbo or Orange, providing an opportunity for students to develop their knowledge and skills to provide quality care to those in our communities and throughout rural Australia.