New docs get virus insights
Interns start year with clear understanding of role
WHILE the coronavirus pandemic caused countless disruptions in 2020, it also provided some of Barwon Health’s newest intern doctors extra insights in their final year of education.
Pre-empting the potential for impact to the workforce, Geelong Clinical School medical students did a 10week pre-internship between the first and second wave of COVID-19, allowing them to shadow intern doctors.
This week, 43 junior doctors started their year as fulltime interns at Barwon Health, including 18 who were trained at the Geelong Clinical School.
After completing her education in Geelong, Rachael Marshall is working on a general medical ward at Geelong hospital, a couple of flights of stairs from where she was born.
Dr Marshall said spending the final year of training in pandemic conditions had given interns more exposure to the hospital setting, and helped the transition into their new work environment.
“The structure of our final year was changed during the pandemic, but it meant we could spend most of the year at the hospital, especially with our 10-week pre-internship,” she said.
“Geelong Clinical School started the pre-internship in the middle of year, in case we had to unexpectedly join the workforce.
“A pre-internship would normally happen at the end of the year for a shorter time, so spending 10 weeks shadowing an intern put us in really good stead for this year and made the transition a little easier.”
Dr Marshall said the quality of the hospital, the staff and a sense of camaraderie had attracted her to start her career at Barwon Health.
“Opportunities to train and work in Geelong have definitely grown, even in the last five or 10 years,” she said.
“It all feels a bit new and different and scary, having new responsibilities and challenges, but I’m looking forward to learning to be a good team member.”