Seven medical interns arrive in the Riverland Mallee Coorong
Seven new doctors have started their medical internships across hospitals in the River and Murraylands.
The largest ever group of medical interns has started work in South Australian public hospitals this January, with 313 new doctors allocated jobs.
The Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network recruited seven of those interns this year through the Riverland Academy of Clinical Excellence (RACE) program.
The intern year is the first year of practice for new doctors after graduating from medical school and provides supervised clinical experience.
The intern cohort will rotate through women’s health, general medicine, general surgery, emergency and aged care across the region's health sites.
Interns will care for patients with chronic, acute and critical illnesses and provide pre-operative and procedural care.
Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network CEO Wayne Champion said he was thrilled to welcome this year's group of interns to the region, starting with an orientation period.
The RACE medical education program enables medical graduates to undertake all the required postgraduate training to complete a rural generalist fellowship based in the Riverland Mallee Coorong.
"Each intern will rotate through a number of the network’s hospitals and health services, including Loxton, Waikerie, Murray Bridge, Barmera and Mannum," Mr Champion said.
"They will also undertake rotations in collaboration with local GP clinics."
The region includes hospitals at Loxton, Mannum, Murray Bridge, Karoonda, Meninge, Tailem Bend and other townships.
South Australia's chief medical officer, Michael Cusack, said a fresh lot of interns set out on their professional journey at this time each year.
"It marks the transition from medical student to medical practitioner and it’s an exciting time for newly qualified professionals as they apply what they have learnt to the treatment of patients," he said.
"Interns work in a supervised environment as they continue their training and rotate through different specialties.
"They’ll be consolidating their diagnostic, technical, analytical, interpersonal and communication skills in a supportive learning environment."
The number of South Australian recruits is 28 more than last year and includes 33 interstate and 20 overseas medical graduates.
- More information: www.sahealth.sa.gov.au.
