This podcast aims to gather little stories about the big moments in doctors lives. We will talk to doctors from off the beaten track on grand adventures.
Dr Bek Ledingham asks about everything you want to know about being a doctor, particularly in Rural and remote Australia. The podcast is proudly sponsored by the Rural Clinical School of Western Australia, Rural training hubs. If you have any feedback or ideas for future episodes drop us a line at docography@rcswa.edu.au
If you have any questions about training in rural and remote WA contact the Rural Training Hubs at hubs@rcswa.edu.au
Professor David Atkinson has made a massive impact on the health and well being of Western Australians. In particular Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and those living in the Kimberley. In this interview, as in his life he has approached his contributions with great humility.
A google search will show you some of how he has managed this- you'll find his impressive research involvement, his involvement with the Rural Clinical school, GP registrar training, many committees and conference presentations informing health and medical education policy but this information will significantly underestimate the impact David has had.
You wouldn't go too far in WA without meeting a doctor whose career has been shaped in some way by David Atkinson. His greatest investment has been in humans, whether it be potential medical students, researchers, Aboriginal health workers, nurses, administrators, cleaners, medical students, junior doctors, GP registrars or colleagues. He has helped to shape the careers of many fabulous researchers, doctors and leaders.
David retired from the RCSWA in 2021 and while he leaves a large David shaped gap, he has contributed to the thriving culture and people who will continue to work towards the vision.
David has helped shape of excellent training of the future workforce where we need it, giving people a wonderful experience in Rural and Remote Australia so that they either come back, as many have, or understand the patients context when they come to the big smoke for care.
20 May 2021
Episode 2- Sarah Moore
In this episode I spoke to Dr Sarah Moore when we caught up at this years Rural Health West Conference in Perth.
Sarah is a procedural GPO in Busselton and lead medical coordinator at the Rural Clinical School in Busselton. Sarah is also an early career researcher who is currently completing her Masters at UWA, investigating the impact on an online Mindfulness training program on the stress levels of medical students. Sarah enjoys mentoring medical students and junior doctors with regards to their future training and career plans, as well as supporting them to optimise their wellbeing using various self-care practices. Sarah is married with two primary school aged daughters and enjoys yoga, reading and spending time in nature.
Sarah was one of the inaugural Rural Clinical School of WA students in 2002 and has continued her grand adventure on the medical road less travelled blazing trails in Rural WA. She talks about her approach to her career, putting her hand up for leadership positions and forging a vibrant path - finding love, starting a family while maintaining an impressive passion and energy that is contagious to everyone she meets. Sarah shares some wise advice for junior doctors and talks about her experience with mindfulness for self care. She also puts out a call to arms for all of us to become advocates for action on climate change.
8 Apr 2021
Episode 1- William Crohan
Welcome to the Second Season of Docography.
Our first guest for 2021 is Dr William Crohan.
ENT surgical registrar, keen footy player- part of the 2015 West Kimberley Football League premiere team Cable Beach Football Club, Broome RCSWA student in 2015 and wonderful bloke. Hear his stories of how he found himself on this career path and his hopes for the future.
20 Dec 2020
Episode 11- Jonathan Ramachenderan
Jonathan Ramachenderan will tell you that he has the best job in Albany. Working as a Senior Medical Practitioner in Palliative Care and as a GP Anaesthetist, Jonathan balances the fast and slow of medicine whilst living in the stunning Great Southern. Jonathan is married to Kylie and dad to 3 boys and has recently taken up running! He loves to write and reflect on his blog The Healthy GP (https://thehealthygp.com) and in this episode we discuss the importance of intentional self-care for all health professionals.
12 Dec 2020
Episode 10 - Kalgoorlie Gold! The history of the RCSWA with Rhonda Worthington, Vivienne Duggin and Dr Phil Reid
A prequel to Episode 8 with Campbell Murdoch, three of the RCSWA trailblazers talk about the days when the RCSWA was a twinkle in their eye and the challenges and nay sayers they needed to overcome to make it a reality.
Rhonda Worthington has been with the RCSWA from the beginning and worked with us for 19 years. Born in Kalgoorlie she has always worked in health and since the beginning has been a lynch pin in the workings of the RCSWA.
Vivienne Duggin and Phil Reid established the first rural Division of General Practice where she was working as CEO when she heard about some funding that would become available to start Rural Clinical Schools. With her know how, can do attitude and skills in finding the right people to talk to, skills she still uses today with the RCSWA training hubs, Viv got spoke to the right people to turn the spark of the idea into reality.
Phil Reid was one of the first Medical Co-ordinators in Kalgoorlie and has many a story about some of our finest Rural doctors today. He has a great sense of fun and wisdom to share about building an education program from scratch in a town.
You will hear from this conversation how the RCSWA grew to be what it is today.
Photo- Top- Rhonda Worthington with Sarah Moore (formerly Davies) one of the first RCSWA students, now valued member of staff
Bottom Vivienne Duggin, Campbell Murdoch and Phil Reid
5 Oct 2020
Episode 9- Lorraine Anderson
Dr Lorraine Anderson is an Aboriginal doctor and Medical Director at Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services in Broome. Lorraine gained her primary degree in Medicine at The University of Auckland in New Zealand, followed by post graduate qualifications in Child Health, Palliative Medicine and General Practice. She has also been involved in research, medical education and business development in health (private, public and NGO sectors). Lorraine is a Fellow of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practice and the Royal Australian College of General Practice. She has been working in Aboriginal health and remote rural practice in the Pilbara, Indian Ocean Territories and now the Kimberley for the past 12 years.
2 Sept 2020
Episode 8- Campbell Murdoch
Campbell Murdoch was the Head of the Rural Clinical School of WA from 2002 to 2007. He then stayed on for 2 years as Winthrop Professor of Rural and Remote Medicine. He returned to rural general practice in New Zealand and is now based in Blenheim in Marlborough.
He graduated MB from the University of Glasgow in Scotland in 1966 and became a GP near Glasgow in 1968. In 1977 he moved to an academic position in Dundee and then moved to New Zealand as the country’s first Professor of General Practice in 1983. After occupying Chairs in Family Medicine and Primary Care Medicine in UAE and Malaysia, he finally became a rural doctor in 1998 in Winton, Southland NZ.
The picture is with Annie Bella, his 8 year old grand daughter
20 Jul 2020
Episode 7- Christel Smit-Kroner
Christel is born and raised in The Netherlands and moved to country NSW in 2006 with her husband and two small children. She completed her ACRRM training through the Remote Vocational Training Scheme. The family expanded significantly with three more Australian born children and different animals over the years, including dogs, chickens, pigs, sheep, a pony, a cow and honey bees.
She holds a heavy rigid driver license, which she needed when the family travelled around Australia for two years in a large bus.
Currently she practices GP medicine mainly in Aboriginal health, emergency medicine and palliative care. She teaches Rural Clinical School students in Albany WA. After discovering medical education, it is becoming more and more a passion.
Through her now teenage children she got involved with Climate Activism and is working on an individual and local level around the health care system to find ways to reduce carbon emissions in everything that we do.
5 Jul 2020
Episode 6- Mat Coleman
Mat Coleman - father, regional psychiatrist, addiction specialist, rural academic, commissioner, farmer.
He shares with us some stories about his vast and varied career path so far with its many interesting facets. Be inspired to live large and carve your own fabulous career path.
29 Jun 2020
Episode 5- Nathan Luies
Dr Nathan Luies MBBS BSc (Physiotherapy) is a proud descendant of the Karajarri and Yawuru people.
He is Australia’s first Indigenous Sports and Exercise Medicine Physician trainee.
He currently works in Canberra at the Australian Institute of Sport.
12 Jun 2020
Episode 4- Eve Battersby- featuring Matt Arbon
In this interview we talk to Eve Battersby. The inaugural Junior doctor of the year for Broome Hospital in 2019, Eve is training to be a Rural Generalist with skills in Anaesthetics.
She was also the Medical Education registrar during her time in Broome so amongst other things we discuss what makes a good educator, How to make training decisions, stepping out of your comfort zone, what does a rural generalist do and what it means for your partner. Eve's partner Matt, a legendary physio in his own right, gives us some food for thought from a partners point of view,
21 May 2020
Episode 3- Jared Watts
Jared Watts has a list of achievements befitting someone with many more laps of the sun. As you'll discover listening to him, he has collected them, driven by passion and a love for what he does, rather than tending to his list. He is currently the Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in the Kimberley and the A/Director of Obstetrics and Gynaecology for the WA Country Health Service. He is a WA Clinical Senator, Regional RANZCOG Councillor, and the national chair for the ACRRM, RACGP and RANZCOG Joint Committee for GP Obstetrics and Certification. He has completed further studies in public health and tropical medicine and has worked internationally in several low resource settings including Nigeria, Cambodia, Laos and Syria. Jared is passionate about rural medicine and the role of the generalist and the essential part they play in ensuring women have access to high quality clinical care close to their home, family and support networks.
Join us as we talk about unexpected career paths, rural Obstetrics, the importance of team work, mentorship and what makes a good leader. Many thanks for taking time to share some of your growing wisdom with us Jared.
9 Mar 2020
Episode 2- Simon Hemsley
Our first in depth interview is Simon Hemsley. Rural Generalist who's worked in the South West, the Kimberley and also abroad in South Africa. He is also an established artist. You can see some of his beautiful work, much of which is inspired by the North West landscapes here https://simonhemsley.com.au
He tells us the stories of his adventurous and varied career so far as well as sharing his philosophies on life and the wisdom he has gained over the years.
Many thanks to Simon Hemsley for kicking off our interview series for Docography. Enjoy
11 Feb 2020
DOCOGRAPHY Episode one
Announcing a new podcast sponsored by the RCSWA - Rural training hubs.
We will talk to some fascinating doctors finding out the little stories about the big moments.
In this episode meet the RCSWA family for 2020 and find out what are some of the Medical co-ordinators career highlights and biggest challenges, For our new colleagues in training, what are they most looking forward to and what has them shaking in their RM Williams boots.
If you have any ideas for future episodes or burning questions you'd love answered, drop us a line at docography@rcswa.edu.au
If you would like more information about training opportunities in Rural WA, contact the Rural Training Hubs at hubs@rcswa.edu.au
Contact Docography
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Docography?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
