VICDOC Autumn 2023 - Magazine - Page 21
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CAREER
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WHEN I WAS A MEDICAL STUDENT, I WAS VERY
INTERESTED IN PATHOLOGY. BUT OBSTETRICS
AND GYNAECOLOGY WAS MORE AVAILABLE TO ME,
SO I PURSUED THAT.
I hated it for the first six months! But I
persisted and have grown to be absolutely
committed to and passionate about
supporting women and families as they
navigate pregnancy and birth. Despite many
years of practicing obstetrics, I continue to
feel very privileged to be a part of the birth
not only of a newborn but also of a mother
and a family.
I CAME TO AUSTRALIA 10 YEARS AGO AS AN
INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL GRADUATE, OR IMG.
This is a descriptive term for medical
graduates who have been trained in
another country. The term tends to be used
in countries where the local population
and hence the medical profession is
predominantly Caucasian. Most IMGs do
not like the term; it’s a way of ‘othering’
us that is very unnecessary. There is also a
subtext in that the term IMG is most often
used to describe non-Caucasian doctors,
leading to further alienation.
IN AUSTRALIA, THE HEALTHCARE YOU CAN ACCESS
IS VERY MUCH DETERMINED BY GEOGRAPHY.
We all pay the same taxes, but we don’t
have access to the same health services.
This is a big issue for people living in
rural areas, who face a double whammy
of poor access to healthcare and lower
socio-economic status. I would like the
standard of healthcare available in rural
areas to match that available in urban areas.
Why shouldn’t it?
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