Benefits of Rural Generalist Foundation Year
Benefits of Rural Generalist Foundation Year
Case Study
“I wasn’t completely certain I was interested in general practice, let alone general practice in a rural setting. Enrolling in the Foundation Year gave me an opportunity to take the time to learn about my options and slowly transition into an advanced skill.”
Growing up in Camden, a rural town less than an hour’s drive from central Sydney, and then attending medical school in Western Sydney, Dr Dean Zinghini was uncertain of whether to work in the city or a regional town.
Dr Zinghini completed several rural rotations while in medical school, which helped him to gain insight into life as a rural GP. While he maintained a strong interest in rural medicine, the junior doctor chose to begin his career working in Sydney at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
“Working in Sydney during my first year of medicine, I grew to realise I preferred the breadth and depth of medicine available in rural and regional communities, so I chose to rotate out to Dubbo several times,” Dr Zinghini said.
Eager to gain the extra skills necessary to practice medicine rurally, Dr Zinghini applied for the Health Education and Training Institute’s (HETI) Rural Generalist Medical Training Program (RGTP) and was offered an opportunity to complete Advanced Skills Training. Rather than accepting the offer, he chose instead to enrol in the Rural Generalist Foundation Year.
“I wasn’t completely certain I was interested in general practice, let alone general practice in a rural setting. Enrolling in the Foundation Year offered an opportunity to take the time to learn about my options and slowly transition into an advanced skill,” said Dr Zinghini.
The Foundation Year gave Dr Zinghini access to a supportive network of mentors and clinical education experts who could advise him on his future career prospects.
“Going to medical school in the city, it’s difficult to comprehend work in a rural area and understand what the differences and challenges are – it can seem very isolating. HETI’s Foundation Year program allowed me to learn more about life as a rural doctor and equipped me with the skills and knowledge to make the right decision for my career and personal life,” Dr Zinghini said.
“Through conferences and face-to-face contact with administrators of the program, I met other doctors in NSW with similar career goals, helping to consolidate my interest in rural medicine,” Dr Zinghini said.
Now in his first year of anaesthetics training through the Advanced Skills Training program in Maitland, Dr Zinghini feels confident in his decision to train as a rural doctor.
“Working in regional areas, while challenging, is an incredibly rewarding experience. You are given the opportunity to truly become part of the community you are servicing,” Dr Zinghini said.
“It requires a considerable amount of adaptability as it pushes you to work outside of your comfort zone. You have a great amount of autonomy as a rural doctor and you need to be prepared to explore areas of medicine that are new to you.”