Top award for a GP out to change lives
DR JOSEPH England wants to make a difference. It’s why he’s dedicated his life to medicine – and it is this same passion that has driven him in each new chapter of his career. Now, eight years after first entering the medical profession, and two years after starting his general practitioner training, Dr England is celebrating one of the most exciting developments in his career: winning the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners’ GP in Training of the Year award.
Winning the award marks an important milestone for the Townsville born and bred doctor, who now works as a GP at Defence Recruiting.
“It’s nice to get to know people and their families. You feel good when you can (help) someone when they’ve been to other doctors, and you
manage to crack it,” Dr England said.
“I didn’t even en know I’d been nomiminated – it was a nice ce surprise and felt very ry gratifying.” But Dr England feels winnning the award is just st the start.
The father-of-two wo has a dream of making king a career in health a possibility for students in Townsville.
The former Thuringowa State High School student said he saw endless potential in many of his young patients, and he wanted to bridge the divide and help them learn
more about medicine. “One of my standard questions for high hig schoolers is what wh they’re thinking of doing after high hig school. I can often oft link young people pe with opportunities tun I’m aware of, or give people advice vic on health careers,” he said. sa
“I met a lot of refugee, Indigenous and otherwise disadvantaged kids who would make great doctors – but when I asked about it they said ‘kids from Thuringowa don’t get into medical school’, which made me sad.” Motivated to make a change, Dr England partnered with a teacher and created a program based on James Cook University medicine and the experiences that may help people be accepted.
Dr England said while the program was in the early stages, he would continue working in the hopes of putting children with an interest in medicine on the right path.
“I’m hopeful it will one day get off the ground,” he said.
“I’m working on a cheaper version that matches high school kids of specific backgrounds to mentors of similar backgrounds.”
YOU FEEL GOOD WHEN YOU CAN (HELP) SOMEONE WHEN THEY’VE BEEN TO OTHER DOCTORS, AND YOU MANAGE TO CRACK IT DR JOSEPH ENGLAND