Ten new medical students from Notre Dame University were welcomed to the Lithgow area on January 30 at a barbecue held to introduce them to the community before they undertake their final year at the Lithgow Clinical School.
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This is the eighth intake of students that Lithgow has had with six permanent students who will stay for the whole year and four who will be continually rotating and only staying in Lithgow for four weeks.
Associate Professor Joe McGirr said that, as this was their final year of the four year course, it was where the students would “really become doctors”.
“The community is very supportive and makes the students feel welcome every year, they are absolutely marvellous,” Professor McGirr said.
The Community Advisory Board was on hand to chat with students and to talk to them about the area and be the link to the community that they need.
“Most of the students chose Lithgow as their preference, wanting to gain knowledge of a rural centre and the benefits that it has to offer,” he said.
Mayor Stephen Lesslie made an appearance to welcome the group and let them know about some of the amazing things Lithgow has to offer.
Students agreed that they were excited to start and get actively involved in the community by participating in group activities, joining sports groups, going bush walking and seeing what Lithgow has to offer.
Final year student Leanne Uren said that learning in a small country town would offer her the opportunity to learn from a strong team of medical practitioners who were willing to take time to help.
“I also have family in the Central West so when university is finished I am hoping to work in the area,” she said.
Another final year student Ben Harper was excited to start learning from the medical professionals who will guide them through the year. He is following in the footsteps of his wife, who completed in 2017.
“Doctors in these areas could work with someone from birth to old age and see everything and do everything in between, they aren’t just specialised in one area, they have knowledge on everything and I can’t wait to learn off these doctors,” Ben Harper said.
I want to become a part of the community and get in and enjoy it and do things so that this experience doesn't feel like a waste.
- Ben Harper
Head of Lithgow Clinical School Associate Professor John Dearin had some warm words of welcome for both students and staff. He said every year they had a successful cohort and this year will be no different.
“I want to thank you all for bringing some of the outside world into our University life and for taking some of our University life out to the world,” Professor Dearin said.
After introductions were made, speeches were given from doctors and medical practitioners in the area who would become their teachers this year.
The common theme was getting students to become involved and see what the community had to offer.
Lithgow Hospital General Manager, Jill Marjoram, said that the hospital was always improving and was kept young and updated by the new students who come every year.
“When I look at you all I see the hope for the future of medicine on your faces,” she said.
Another message for the new students was to get out and learn rather then staying in their rooms because watching first hand and being able to give things a go was going to be better then watching a YouTube video.
This dinner also gave the University a chance to welcome their newest member of teaching faculty, John England.
Dr England is a well known cardiologist and heart specialist in Katoomba and has written a text book on pace makers.
“This is such a diverse course and so my advice would just be to get as immersed as possible,” he said.
Student Coordinator Chrissie Thompson said being at Lithgow teaches students the difference between rural medicine and city medicine, because “there is a difference”.
Lithgow Clinical School will also be holding their Rural Conference for first year medical students in March.
