Destination Medicine Podcast
Health, Fitness & Longevity
About
Opportunities for a successful medical career in rural Australia are immense. The Destination Medicine© podcast library has been created to assist anyone who has thought about a career as a rural doctor to make informed decisions and navigate a rural medical pathway with greater confidence.Each episode of this podcast series brings the story of a doctor and their journey into rural medicine. It hasn't been a straight highway for many; there have been a few bumps, U-turns and bends along the way. How did a city slicker end up living on a farm in the Riverina of NSW? And what happened to the young doctor who had a life changing moment on an isolated highway in the Northern Territory? Well, you will have to listen to find out...and there's more.With over 23 specialities, 81 fields of speciality practice and 86 speciality titles, making career decisions can seem overwhelming for medical students and junior doctors. For some it is an easy decision, having always known the area in which th
Episodes
- Student Series: Hooves, Health and Higher Degrees – Natalie Vear
From suburban Queensland to clinical training in Wagga Wagga — fourth-year medical student Natalie Vear has wholly embraced rural medicine. A former exercise physiologist and postdoctoral research fellow with a PhD in exercise cardio…
- Heart of the Red Centre: focus on what you love - Dr Angus Baumann
Dr Angus Baumnann took a long, non-linear journey into medicine, that eventually led him to specialise in cardiology. Now based in Alice Springs with his family, and deeply entrenched in the community, Angus couldn’t be happier with…
- Student Series: The Magic of Rural Medicine – Laura Sliskovic
Laura Sliskovic put aside her desire to become an actress and pursue her passion to become a doctor, supporting remote communities with limited access to healthcare. It was through her mother’s diagnosis of breast cancer, and the cha…
- ENCORE: From championship rowing to emergency medicine – Dr Daniel Stewart's circuitous journey to Dubbo
Dan's story has been captivating listeners since 2020. As our most downloaded episode of all time, we thought it was worth a relisten. In retrospect it was the perfect vocational choice. But Dr Daniel Stewart just didn't know it as he rowe…
- ENCORE: Doctors in Training: Painting your own picture - Dr Pippa Kensit
We're relaunching a few of our fave episodes for our fresh new crop of Interns – all the best for your next adventure! For Pippa Kensit, medicine always beckoned, especially because public health is where her heart is. A passion conf…
- ENCORE: Doctors in Training: "I want to do the best I can" – Dr Grace Nelson, rural intern and life-long learner
We're relaunching a few of our fave episodes for our fresh new crop of Interns – all the best for your next adventure! It was sage advice from an English teacher that saw Dr Grace Nelson achieve her aspirations. She was counselled to…
- ENCORE: Doctors in Training: Dr Stephanie Pollard - Feel the fear and do it anyway
We're relaunching a few of our fave episodes for our fresh new crop of Interns – all the best for your next adventure! Dr Stephanie Pollard is a proud Ngemba woman who grew up playing sport and making mischief in Goulburn. She had mo…
- ENCORE: Student Series: Resilience and a “go for it” spirit - attributes that count for Lily Hogan, a girl from the Riverina
We're relaunching a few of our fave episodes so people preparing for GAMSAT can learn from the best. When Lily Hogan was growing up on her family’s sheep and cropping farm at Bethunga in the Riverina, she had no-one to influence her…
- ENCORE: Student Series: Andre McDuling - An Origin Story
We're relaunching a few of our fave episodes so people preparing for GAMSAT can learn from the best. Andre McDuling is on the verge of realising a decades-long dream: to become a doctor who caters for a rural community. Andre shares his tr…
- ENCORE: Student Series: Laura Beaumont’s tips for getting into medicine - follow your dream and enjoy the journey!
We're relaunching a few of our fave episodes so people preparing for GAMSAT can learn from the best. Laura Beaumont’s life-long dream of becoming a doctor is on a road to reality as she completes her third year as a medical student a…
- Doctors in Training: Persistence Pays: From Farm Life to Rural Doctor – Dr Matthew Collocott
Raised on farms in both South Africa and the Northern Rivers of New South Wales, Matthew Collocott took the long road into medicine — from biomedical science at Griffith University, to four attempts at the GAMSAT, to finally securing…
- Doctors in Training: Against the Current, Toward the Goal - Dr Morgan Neasey’s Rural Journey towards orthopaedics
Dr Morgan Neasey grew up in rural northwest Tasmania, far from any clear pathway into medicine. First in her family to become a doctor and go to university, determination and community shaped her drive to help others. After studying biomed…
- ENCORE: Dr Rebecca Irwin — Growing roots and doing rounds in Central West Queensland
To celebrate National Rural Health Month, we’ve reached into our archive and are replaying one of our most popular rural episodes of all time. Dr Rebecca Irwin has planted her flag in the town of Barcaldine in Queensland’s Cent…
- Close-Knit Community Care in Finley; Training tomorrow’s Rural Doctors. Rural Generalist A/Prof Alam Yoosuff
From Sri Lanka to small town Finley NSW. That was the path Associate Professor Alam Yoosuff and his wife took about 20 years ago. And what a journey it’s been. From becoming entrenched in the community to playing a crucial role in bu…
- Becoming a Book in Someone’s Library – A/Prof Deb Wilson’s Anaesthetics and Advocacy
From a farm in remote WA to becoming a rural anaesthetist in Tasmania – Deb Wilson’s path was anything but straight. She describes growing up in a family that prioritised education, reveals how a reluctant start in anaesthetics…
- ENCORE: The Rural Generalist path to professional and lifestyle fulfilment
To celebrate Rural Generalism becoming a recognised medical speciality, we've reached into the archive and are replaying our most popular RG episode of all time. Dr Teena Downton's specialisation is a great example of the diversity you can…
- Doctors in Training: Balancing Medicine, Motherhood and Rural Life – Amanda Fulton’s Story
After starting her career as a veterinarian, Dr Amanda Fulton couldn’t ignore the calling to study medicine. At 29, she took the leap, retraining while raising a young family, and is now a trainee at Port Augusta Hospital South Austr…
- Student Series: It Took a Village: From Paramedic to Future Rural Doctor - Emily Turnbull
Emily Turnbull began her career as a paramedic but over time, realised she could do more for her community by becoming a doctor. Now a fourth-year medical student at Dubbo Rural Clinical School and raised on a property in rural almost remo…
- Doctors in Training: From a caring community to caring for community – Dr Rhi Noble
While it might seem like medicine is for the well healed, it’s actually a course that creates opportunities for everyone. Rhi Noble, now a Junior Doctor at Lismore Base Hospital, is an extraordinary example of fighting through disadv…
- Doctors in Training: The best you can be is yourself - Bradley Dovenor
In year 9, Bradley Dovenor accidently discovered that one could study post-graduate medicine. It was revelatory and lit the flame for what would become a singular desire to get into medicine. As an introvert and self-described nerd, studyi…
- Student Series: Volunteering and the Road to Medicine – Jessica Mepstead
Jessica Mepstead gave herself two months to study for the GAMSAT. Already working as a dietician, she chose not to tell a soul until the result – she passed! She also gained some great insight and perspective on the process. An…
- Doctors in Training: Painting your own picture - Dr Pippa Kensit
For Pippa Kensit, medicine always beckoned, especially because public health is where her heart is. A passion confirmed early on as she travelled abroad, and then through rural and reginal Australia. But it was only after becoming a nurse…
- Student Series: "Get yourself out there!” – Dr Liam Halford’s advice for going rural
From playing gigs in pubs to delivering babies in the Outback, Liam Halford’s journey to medicine was anything but typical. Growing up in Gawler, South Australia, with no family history in medicine, Liam discovered his passion for ru…
- Student Series: From Tassie to the Top End — Loni Schramm’s epic journey to medicine
Growing up in rural Tasmania, Lonnie Schramm never imagined becoming a doctor — especially not in the Northern Territory. But a move to Darwin, a psychology degree and a leap of faith into medicine changed everything. Lonnie shares h…
- Doctors in Training: Dr Brittney Wicksteed — Leading the way in WA
Always a country kid at heart who is training in emergency medicine, Dr Brittney Wicksteed is already emerging as a key leader in rural health in her home state of Western Australia. She’s now WA Rural Doctors in Training Chair, as w…
- Doctors in Training: Be kind to yourself and be kind to your colleagues – Dr Stefanie Pidcock
After two decades working to heal the planet, Dr Stefanie Pidcock made a huge change, pivoting to a career of healing individuals in a rural setting. And this ecologist-turned-medic hasn’t looked back. Dr Pidcock shares her journey t…
- Dr Courtney-Anne Blackhall — Where everybody knows your name
Living where people know your name, and are keen to stop and chat, is high on Dr Courtney-Anne Blackhall’s priority list for life, as is having a broad-based career in this friendly environment. So the Northern Rivers, with its beach…
- City convert finds a remarkable career as a rural generalist – Dr Emma Jones
Growing up a city kid, it hadn’t dawned on Dr Emma Jones that she could and would dedicate herself to being a Rural Generalist. Then a conversation with other medical students about the benefits of living regionally led her to the Jo…
- Student Series: From crisis to calling — Jack Howard's journey to medicine
A frightening experience at the age of 16 prompted Jack Howard to study medicine. He was on a country road when his grandfather experienced chest pains, and Jack didn’t know how to help except to drive at speed to the nearest country…
- Doctors in Training: From marketing to medicine – Kalgoorlie’s Dr Anna Western
It's certainly not a common trajectory — from an established career in graphic design and marketing to medicine — but that’s the extraordinary career path of Dr Anna Western, a Rural Clinical School of WA alumna now worki…
- Rescue missions and rural emergencies — Dr Jessica Martyn
Soaring to the heights of rural and remote medicine — and not just in RFDS planes — Dr Jessica Martyn has enjoyed an extremely varied and exciting career. Dr Martyn, who is now the Head of Unit at the Port Augusta Hospital Emer…
- Doctors in Training: Dr Katie Barnes – first, female and flying high
From learning to winch out of a helicopter to providing critical care in the most demanding circumstances, Dr Katie Barnes spends her career undertaking risky retrieval missions for patients. It’s an extraordinary specialisation, and…
- Doctors in Training: Dr Isaac Taylor – surf and service in South Australia
The pristine beaches, the effortless rural lifestyle and participating in a welcoming community. It was all too much for Dr Isaac Taylor to resist. So he’s returned to the place he grew up in to serve the communities of South Australia’s E…
- Dr Andrew Moreton – The only limit is your imagination
It’s hard to beat the regional doctor lifestyle. That’s according to veteran Dubbo GP Dr Andrew Moreton, who has dedicated his career to lifetime care in regional NSW. He’s had the opportunity to bring up his children on a small property j…
- Flying high — Dr Scott Lewis’ journey home to regional SA
If you are planning to practice in an area the size of South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula, it helps if you buy a plane and learn to fly. That’s how Dr Scott Lewis brings crucial GP and anaesthetist services to his huge patch of rural and rem…
- Dr John Floridis — Top End adventures in remote medicine
There is so much to be learned from the vastly experienced Dr John Floridis, a pharmacist-turned rural generalist and advanced emergency medicine trainee. As well as being a rural and remote family doctor, John is a GP anaesthetist and a m…
- Student Series: Georgia Goodhew on where her "heart really lies"
We all owe something to our mothers, but medical student Georgia Goodhew is especially grateful to hers. When Georgia finally realised a girl could become a doctor, it was her mother who stood beside her in the face of many detractors. In…
- A Tiny Town Triumph – Dr Emmy Hennell
Running her own practice in a “top ten” tiny town, Dr Emmy Hennell is a rural GP in a position to sit back and survey her great achievements, wrapped in the arms of a supportive community. From her home in Tumby Bay, South Australia, Dr He…
- Student Series: Grace Hollow – Rural medicine and the "the opportunity to do more"
Medical student Grace Hollow is an astounding advertisement for home schooling. Having grown up on a farm in a small rural town in South Australia and being home schooled by her parents, Grace has almost attained her dream of becoming a ru…
- Training a new generation in rural anaesthetics – Dr Robert Easther
An ambition to find a challenging position in life, where close teamwork and hands-on experience go together, has led Dr Robert Easter to an incredibly interesting and varied specialist career. In this episode of Destination Medicine, Dr E…
- Student Series: “A huge blessing” – Shray Sinha’s well mentored medical journey
Studying in regional Australia is a “huge blessing” according to Shray Sinha, who is undertaking his qualifications in Dubbo, NSW. Shray swapped engineering for medicine to follow his family’s culture of care. In this episode of Destinatio…
- Student Series: Bega, Broken Hill, and beyond — Nicholas Mott’s rural medicine dream
Nicholas Mott is living his medical student dream. He has been enjoying stimulating and varied study and training in outback Broken Hill while also enjoying a busy and “very fun” social, cultural and sporting life there. In this episode of…
- Student Series: Andre McDuling - An Origin Story
Andre McDuling is on the verge of realising a decades-long dream: to become a doctor who caters for a rural community. Andre shares his transformative journey from IT specialist to medical doctor via several other degrees. He describes how…
- Growing our own - Dr Tau Loseli is grounded in Griffith
Dr Tau Loseli is living his dream: a (literally) hands-on medical practice in regional Australia which affords him to so much more time to spend with his wife and children. This son of Tongan immigrants started out pulling vegetables from…
- Student Series: “You learn something from everyone” - Daniel Kendall’s rural healthcare journey
In this episode of Destination Medicine, we hear this inspiring story of a pharmacist, Dan Kendall, from Dubbo who decided to pursue his dream. Daniel shares his journey to medicine, highlighting the pivotal moments and supportive communit…
- Student Series: Lizzie Del Gigante discovers the rewards of rural medicine – experience and research
What’s it like to decide to sit the GAMSAT and apply for medicine from another career? And is regional life really what it’s cracked up to be? Student Doctor Lizzie Del Gigante can provide some insights. In this episode, Lizzie shares her…
- Doctors in Training: The power of mentorship – Dr Nathan Blake’s call to psychiatry
Nobody could convince Dr Nathan Blake to live and work in the city. He says a regional life is much “easier”. Not just because it is easier to get around, but because it is easier to work closely and learn more from your teachers, and beca…
- Doctors in Training: The makings of a great GP — Dr Joe Harris
Dr Joe Harris is living his dream, with a deep connection to regional Dubbo. In this episode, Joe shares the story of how his career has moved from childhood dream to rural reality. He reflects on the mentors who guided him, the challenges…
- Dr Rebecca Irwin — Growing roots and doing rounds in Central West Queensland
Dr Rebecca Irwin has planted her flag in the town of Barcaldine in Queensland’s Central West, and it’s here she intends staying. As a rural generalist based at Barcaldine Hospital, she can’t imagine she’ll want to move. In this episode, we…
- Student Series: From scrubbing pots to scrubbing in – Jean-Baptiste Philibert’s journey to medicine
Hailing from a remote island in the Indian Ocean, Jean-Baptiste Philibert (or J.B. to his friends) has had a unique journey to into medicine. In this episode of Destination Medicine, J.B. leads us through the story of his experiences after…