A year on from starting their internship at Echuca Regional Health, doctors Molly Cookson, Bec Coffey and Michaela Rutherford have put their hands up to stay on at the hospital for their 12-month residency.
They were three of five doctors to take on an internship at ERH last year.
All three doctors are part of the Loddon Mallee Rural Generalist Program, which has been designed to give trainees the opportunity to take on a range of different rotations throughout the Loddon Mallee region.
The program supports trainee doctors in choosing their own pathway by allowing them to take on the rotations that they have a particular interest in and are most intrigued by.
Dr Coffey said the program was unique because it had enabled her to take on rotations in Bendigo — giving her firsthand knowledge of how other facilities and services run — without having to pack everything up and move away.
She said one of the primary reasons for deciding to stay on at Echuca was because she knew she would be given an increased amount of responsibility.
“It’s also reassuring to be in an environment that we’re already comfortable in and familiar with,” Dr Coffey said.
“The internship really allowed us to see the whole picture of the hospital. Rotating through all these different areas gave us an appreciation for all those areas and the work that goes on in each department.”
With a strong support network on hand at the hospital at all times, the doctors said it made the decision to stay easier.
There are more than 20 rural generalists at ERH.
Dr Cookson has opted to take on emergency medicine, paediatrics, obstetrics and high-dependency unit anaesthetics rotations as part of her residency.
She said the program’s regional co-ordinators, who have the task of arranging rotations, had been a real asset.
“They’re independent to the hospital, which means they listen to what we want, give us advice on the pathway we want to head down and are always looking out for what’s best for our future, regardless of where we may end up,” Dr Cookson said.
The program co-ordinators work closely with Melbourne and Monash universities, Murray City Country Coast GP Training, Murray Primary Health Network, general practices and other key health services to support the needs of trainees and the region.
Director of clinical training Kate Schultz said the program was at the leading edge when it came to supporting junior doctors in transforming their career goals into a reality.
“If someone is interested in psychiatry, they will support that,” Dr Schultz said.
“It’s about growing doctors for the bush.”
Having started their internship at the same time, the three doctors are excited to continue the next chapter of their careers together, with the support of one another.
“These women are stars,” Dr Schultz said.
“We have the best of the best coming through this program and having them out there providing care to regional communities just really bodes well in Victoria.”