Young docs heading our way
Junior medicos conference could spark healthy prognosis for region
Townsville will play host to more than 100 doctors-intraining this weekend with the city’s medical leaders taking the opportunity to recruit young medical professionals to the region.
The city has been named the host of the Australian Medical Association of Queensland’s Junior Doctors Conference. It is the second time in the conference’s eight-year history that it has been held in Townsville.
AMA Queensland President Dr Maria Boulton said the conference would be an opportunity for young, developing doctors to not only network with their peers, but also learn from established specialists.
“Medicine is such a challenging, rewarding profession with so many options and opportunities,” Dr Boulton said.
“You can see that from the wide range of speakers and topics covered over the weekend.
“This will be a chance for doctors right at the start of their careers to talk to potential mentors who can help steer their careers while learning some procedural skills from cardiologists, orthopaedic surgeons, intensivists, ophthalmologists and oncologists.”
Among the list of speakers is North Queensland Cowboys medical officer Chris Ball, 2018 AMA Doctor in Training of the Year, Dr Mikaela Seymour and Townsville Hospital and Health Service medical oncologist Professor Sabe Sabesan.
AMA Queensland Committee of Doctors in Training (CDT) chairwoman Dr Elise Witter, who is based in Cairns, said the conference would provide an opportunity for doctors like her to take the time to de-stress.
“Doctors’ wellbeing is so important, yet has been overlooked for far too long,” Dr Witter said.
“The sessions on balancing life, medicine and wellbeing and overcoming adversity will help start conversations about how to look after ourselves and each other and give students and junior doctors the confidence to look after their mental health and that of their friends and colleagues.
“I am very fortunate to live and work in a tropical paradise, and am passionate about reducing inequity in regional and rural healthcare.
“Holding JDC outside Brisbane and South East Queensland is a great step in attracting and retaining medical students and junior doctors to North Queensland.”
The conference will be hosted by James Cook University and sponsored by THHS.
Health service board chairman Tony Mooney said it would be a huge asset in attracting doctors to the region.
‘‘The conference is unique in nature as it offers, what we hope will be, future Townsville HHS doctors the opportunity to see first-hand the attractant lifestyle of the region and the professional opportunities the HHS has to offer them,’’ Mr Mooney said.
‘‘Improving the health of the North Queensland community has never been more important and, as the pre-eminent tertiary facility in the region, we are committed to growth, innovation, tech solutions, research, and education as the way of the future.”
The conference will be held on 3-4 June.