Building a rural workforce, community bonds and lifestyle play a key role to retaining our Wide Bay medical students

Students based at The University of Queensland Rural Clinical School (UQRCS), Bundaberg and Hervey Bay Regional Clinical Units have swapped their scrubs and textbooks for graduation caps and gowns, graduating with a Doctor of Medicine (MD).

Graduating students Katerina Balis and Ian Chu of the Bundaberg and Hervey Bay Regional Clinical Unit Class of 2023, reflected on their enriching experiences studying in regional Queensland.

Katerina Balis, who studied predominately in Bundaberg but also did a placement in Rockhampton, praised the unique learning offerings and supportive hospital teams that drew her to regional healthcare.

“I did a placement in Bundaberg during my first year of Medical School, and I knew from that experience that I wanted to explore regional and rural healthcare" Miss Balis said.

“One of the biggest draws of going regional and rural was the friendly community and the lifestyle."

Living in university accommodation with other medical students, Katerina said that she loved that her commute was less than five minutes.

“I have absolutely loved living and studying in Bundaberg for the past two years," she said. 

“Not to mention, we have beautiful beaches so close to us.

“The staff at the hospital are always eager to involve students and I feel that having had some independence in the last two years has significantly helped me gain confidence to be a junior doctor next year.” 

Ian Chu, graduating from Hervey Bay Regional Clinical Unit, highlights the rewarding experience and relaxed living environment.

“I would recommend it to every student, even for just one year," Mr Chu said. 

“With a smaller community at each site, you create closer relationships with your cohort, and you develop great teamwork skills during simulations.

“I chose to stay in a regional hospital after my first clinical year for the smaller cohorts, more personalised teaching environments, and plenty of hands-on practical learning. After rotating through most of the departments at Hervey Bay Hospital, I really felt like I knew the staff and they knew me.

Both Katerina and Ian plan to stay in regional areas for their next journey in medicine.

Ian has joined the Queensland Rural Generalist Pathway and will intern at Toowoomba Base Hospital  for the next two years.

Katerina will start her internship in Rockhampton as part of the Rural Generalist Pathway and is excited to experience the constant variety that comes with regional and rural healthcare.

Dr Gina Watkins, Head of the Bundaberg Regional Clinical Unit, expressed pride in the graduating students, acknowledging their impact on regional medicine.

“Congratulations to our graduating students; it has been a great pleasure teaching and working with them," Dr Watkins said.

They have all attended diligently to their studies and been highly professional with patients, families and staff.

“I wish them a long and happy career in medicine.”