Six-month break turns into career

When Claire Wong switched to work in travel medicine she thought it would be a nice sixmonth break from shift work as a trauma nurse.

Now, 22 years later, she has been appointed a fellow of the International Society of Travel Medicine, making her the only nurse in New Zealand to gain the prestigious title.

Wong discovered the news in October and said she was proud of her achievement.

Hailing from the United Kingdom, Wong has been in New Zealand working for Worldwise Travellers Health for the past six years. She’s been in Palmerston North for the past 18 months.

Wong said she fell into travel medicine by accident as she was working as an orthopaedic trauma nurse in the UK and decided she wanted a break, so went to work for a travel clinic. ‘‘I thought, ‘oh that will be nice for six months’.’’

She thought people had the wrong idea about travel medicine, assuming it was just about a few injections. ‘‘It’s so much more than that. Vaccinations are a fraction of the work we do. We are always thinking about individual risk assessments.

‘‘Sometimes, it’s saying ‘this isn’t the right trip for you’.’’

Wong has a masters in travel medicine and also completed a certificate through the International Society of Travel Medicine.

The certificate is internationally recognised and is one her clinic owner Lisa Scotland also received last year.

Wong’s status will be formally announced in June at an induction ceremony in the US.