Duty to serve and heal
DR BOB Worswick is a longserving member of the army and is currently based in Townsville, where he is undertaking his specialist training to become a general practitioner.
In his 30 years of service, Dr Worswick has been deployed to some of the world’s most dangerous war zones including Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.
He made the transition to medicine in 2011, where he was accepted into the University of Sydney’s graduate medicine program while serving in Afghanistan.
“For a number of reasons predominantly at this stage of my career, I wanted to do something different,” Dr Worswick said.
“It’s a very interesting and rewarding career, I wanted to be able to keep serving soldiers, spend time with soldiers, and give something back to the army.
“I wanted something that would be challenging and interesting and medicine ticked all those boxes. It’s a great way to give back to soldiers, to provide them with healthcare.”
Dr Worswick said he had to balance his ADF duties with his civilian medical commitments. He splits his time between Lavarack Barracks and the Ingham Family Medical Practice.
“I need eight days in a week when I only have seven … I don’t think the ADF fully appreciates the challenges that its doctors face while undergoing training,” he said.
“I work for two different people, we try to juggle military and civilian GP commitments.”
He is one of 13 ADF doctors training through James Cook University’s Generalist Medical Training.
Dr Worswick said he found the ability to administer care to a variety of patients rewarding.
“As a GP, I see people from age to zero to 102 … soldiers and civilians have different re- quirements, but that’s part of being a doctor,” he said.
“In addition to illness and injuries, the military side of medicine means I have to assess ( soldiers’) fitness to serve … it is a different perspective to view from military and civilian medicine.”
Dr Worswick’s wife and three children live in Canberra, and he said that despite the long periods spent away from them, the sacrifice is worth it.
“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. It hurts a lot … but it builds resilience, character and strength. You come to appreciate the sacrifice,” he said.
“I think it does take a toll to meet civilian and army requirements, but I think it’s worth it. I’m giving something back to the organisation, I’m doing something that my family is proud of.”
Deputy director of the program Dr Paula Heggarty manages the ADF doctors and said the university did its utmost to provide support for them. IT W Nor Brig rugb for t Mem
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