If you are planning to practice in an area the size of South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula, it helps if you buy a plane and learn to fly. That’s how Dr Scott Lewis brings crucial GP and anaesthetist services to his huge patch of rural and remote Australia. In this episode of Destination Medicine, Dr Lewis describes his rewarding and varied professional life. He discusses the impact of his early experiences, the significant impact of his mentor, and the pivotal role rural medicine played in shaping his career. He highlights the challenges and rewards of providing medical care in small communities, and how his diverse roles — spanning clinical practice, teaching, and emergency services — have allowed him to make a lasting impact on rural healthcare.

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There is so much to be learned from the vastly experienced Dr John Floridis, a pharmacist-turned rural generalist and advanced emergency medicine trainee. As well as being a rural and remote family doctor, John is a GP anaesthetist and a medical retrieval consultant who spent almost a decade servicing remote communities (and the citizens of Darwin) in the Top End.

In this episode of Destination Medicine, Dr Floridis shares his medical journey from his early days working in South Australia's Riverland to practicing in remote East Arnhem Land. He reflects on the unique challenges and rewards of rural and remote healthcare. He discusses the deep connections with local communities, the broad scope of practice, and the huge opportunities for both professional and personal growth in rural and remote medicine.

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We all owe something to our mothers, but medical student Georgia Goodhew is especially grateful to hers. When Georgia finally realised a girl could become a doctor, it was her mother who stood beside her in the face of many detractors. In this episode of Destination Medicine, Georgia shares her journey from growing up in Narrabri to pursuing her dream of becoming a rural doctor. Fascinated by the human body from a young age, Georgia overcame numerous challenges, including the lack of female doctors in her community, to achieve her goal. She discusses her path through sonography, the pivotal role of mentors, and the motivation behind co-founding Boots to Scrubs, an initiative for rural females aspiring to do medicine. Georgia’s story is a testament to hard study, community support, and the fulfilling opportunities in rural healthcare.

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Running her own practice in a “top ten” tiny town, Dr Emmy Hennell is a rural GP in a position to sit back and survey her great achievements, wrapped in the arms of a supportive community. From her home in Tumby Bay, South Australia, Dr Hennell shares her extraordinary story, from growing up as the 11th of 13 children in an Adelaide family, to becoming a dedicated rural GP. After nearly leaving medicine to become a nurse, Dr Hennell overcame numerous challenges, including balancing motherhood and her medical career, to eventually own and run a rural medical practice. Her story highlights the importance of persistence, community support, and the unique opportunities that rural medicine offers.

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Medical student Grace Hollow is an astounding advertisement for home schooling. Having grown up on a farm in a small rural town in South Australia and being home schooled by her parents, Grace has almost attained her dream of becoming a rural GP. In this episode of Destination Medicine, Grace Hollow describes her journey from the application process through to the benefits of rural placements, and how following her strong religious faith has helped to guide her along a path of service to others. She highlights the challenges and rewards of studying and working in regional areas, reflecting on her passion for rural healthcare.

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An ambition to find a challenging position in life, where close teamwork and hands-on experience go together, has led Dr Robert Easter to an incredibly interesting and varied specialist career. In this episode of Destination Medicine, Dr Easther, a consultant anaesthetist working in NSW and Tasmania, shares his journey and dedication to rural healthcare. Starting medicine late, he found his passion in obstetric and orthopaedic anaesthesia, shaped by a fellowship in Canada. At Wagga Wagga Base Hospital, he serves as a supervisor of training and leads a regional anaesthesia training scheme. He emphasises the importance of mentorship and the diverse, challenging nature of anaesthesia. But it’s not all hard work, with Dr Easter enjoying the work-life balance in Wagga Wagga, being close to work and active in the community. He advises medical students and junior doctors to plan ahead and stay open to opportunities.

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Studying in regional Australia is a “huge blessing” according to Shray Sinha, who is undertaking his qualifications in Dubbo, NSW. Shray swapped engineering for medicine to follow his family’s culture of care. In this episode of Destination Medicine, Shray shares his unique journey from growing up in Dubbo to studying medicine in his hometown. He discusses the advantages of rural medical education, such as personalised, intensive mentorship and quality of life, as well as the valuable support he receives from his family and community. This episode highlights the importance of balancing personal and professional life in medicine, and even looks at Shray’s study into this podcast itself.

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Nicholas Mott is living his medical student dream. He has been enjoying stimulating and varied study and training in outback Broken Hill while also enjoying a busy and “very fun” social, cultural and sporting life there. In this episode of Destination Medicine, Nicholas shares his journey from growing up in the small town of Bega, NSW, to pursuing a career in medicine through the University of Wollongong. Nicholas discusses his experiences in the application process, the unique challenges and rewards of rural placements, and his passion for rural medicine. He offers valuable tips for young doctors considering a similar path and highlights the vibrant community life and diverse opportunities available in rural settings.

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