Doctors reflect on regional practice and recognition as nominations open for RDAA rural doctor of the year

Nominations for the 2023 Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) doctor of the year awards are now open giving regional communities an opportunity to show appreciation for their healthcare professionals. “There are hundreds of doctors and doctors in training across rural Australia who are incredibly dedicated to their patients and communities,” RDAA president-elect Dr Raymond Lewandowski said. “Our awards aim to recognise those doctors who have gone above and beyond.” Junior doctors Rika Lee, Joshua Taylor and Yow Gan recently completed a 10-week rotation at Narrogin District Hospital, a placement that took them from their workplaces in Perth to practise alongside rural doctors and GPs. “You don’t do it for recognition,” Dr Taylor said of his profession. “With some patients, you get a lot of gratification from treating them, with some you may not, that’s part of the job.” More important than recognition for Dr Taylor was a sense of being valued. “It helps keep you motivated and working hard,” he said. Narrogin Health Service’s senior medical practitioner Peter Maguire said that he was glad nominations for the awards were open to the public. “It gives people a chance to feel like they’ve drawn attention to their doctors who they think are doing a good job,” he said. “It shows community respect for everybody, for the team the doctor is a part of and their colleagues. “People will nominate the doctors they see as competent and a part of the community, doctors who deal with people of all types with respect and compassion, that care for people — human stuff.” While the three junior doctors were on rotation in Narrogin they engaged in country life through activities like visiting Dryandra National Park and catching yabbies. “Peter Maguire, the doctor of the ward, he knows everyone, he knows all the patients,” said Dr Yow who was supervised by Dr Maguire while at Narrogin District Hospital. “I think the hospital structure in the country is a lot more intimate, I really love Narrogin. I think if I was born here I would come back to work here.” The 10-week rotation undertaken by the three junior doctors was a first for the Narrogin Health Service which is currently hosting four medical students as part of a year-long Rural Clinical School of WA program designed to promote regional practice. “Together with other health professionals, rural doctors are the backbone of local health care in the bush,” Dr Lewandowski said. “We strongly encourage rural patients, communities, health colleagues and others to nominate a deserving rural doctor, doctor in training or medical student for our awards in 2023.” Nominations for the awards which close on June 30 can be made here.