The future faces of our region’s medical industry are getting prepared to hit the wards of Sunshine Coast Health’s hospitals, after years of study and training.
Today Sunshine Coast Health welcomed 78 medical interns who are starting in their very first roles as doctors.
Executive Director Medical Services Dr Marlene Pearce said Sunshine Coast Health offers a comprehensive program for the doctors that will successfully lead them to gaining their general registration.
“Interns will rotate through a variety of specialty areas that will include medicine, emergency, surgery, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, and they will also rotate to some of our other facilities in the district, not just our university teaching hospital but our rural facilities as well,” Dr Pearce said.
“Our interns and all of our doctors in training are a key part of our workforce - they work with the specialist consultants to deliver team-based care across our facilities, and as they’re rotating through the different areas, they’re gaining skills and experience to equip them to be excellent, well-rounded doctors in the future.”
Before they officially hit the wards, the 78 doctors are taking part in a one-week orientation course so they can familiarise themselves with the facilities, programs, colleagues and supervisors.
Sunshine Coast Health has dedicated and passionate leaders who will guide and support the interns throughout the year and ensure they have a positive learning experience.
“We have the sun, we have the surf, we have excellent clinical teachers and a great learning experience from rural facilities all the way up to high-end tertiary facilities, so we’re a popular place to train, and we welcome interns from right across the state and the country,” Dr Pearce said.
Having been through the experience herself, Dr Pearce gave the interns a small piece of advice.
“It’s a learning year – take all the opportunities that you can to grow and develop and patients are often our best teachers, so while you’re here learning from your supervisors and your educators make sure to learn from the patients as well.”
Remarkably, this year a set of twins were offered medical intern positions at Sunshine Coast Health.
Dr Alexa van Nikerk and Dr Megan van Nikerk, who were born three minutes apart, have just relocated from Brisbane and are excited to begin their medical careers on the Sunshine Coast.
“We went to separate high schools, so we didn’t originally plan to do the exact same thing, but it’s a whole nature versus nurture argument because here we are doing the exact same thing,” Alexa said.
“Because we studied together, we became a lot closer during university, and I think we work well together, so we thought that it would be a good idea to do our internship together.”
“Honestly, I’ve heard really good things about the lifestyle and the hospital and the culture in the hospital. I had a few friends that came up last year who loved it.” Megan said.