Australia¡¯s rural medical degrees seek to end exodus to cities

Seven universities have joined forces to deliver ¡°end-to-end¡± medical degrees in Australia¡¯s brown interior, in a drive to overcome a dearth of doctors in 바카라사이트 bush.

The Murray-Darling Medical Schools Network began training its first students in late February, operating on 바카라사이트 premise that doctors educated in 바카라사이트 country have better odds of staying 바카라사이트re.

Australia has enforced regional quotas for its medical degrees since 바카라사이트 early 2000s. Some students must have rural backgrounds and one-quarter must undertake at least a year of clinical training in 바카라사이트 bush. But research suggests that this is not enough.

A 2017 Monash University??found that while 12 months¡¯ rural immersion almost doubled 바카라사이트 likelihood of students remaining in 바카라사이트 regions, 바카라사이트 probability more than doubled again if 바카라사이트 country stint stretched past two years ¨C particularly if it included experience in both hospital and general practice.

Charles Sturt and La Trobe universities, which have campuses across inland New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria, lobbied Canberra for years for permission to establish a joint rural medical school. They met stiff opposition from city-based universities and students worried that 바카라사이트 proposal would dilute educational resources and increase competition for scarce medical internships.

In a compromise move, 바카라사이트 two institutions are collaborating with Melbourne, Monash, Sydney, UNSW Sydney and Western Sydney universities, all of which have medical schools. The new network will run courses from Dubbo, Orange and Wagga Wagga in NSW and Churchill and Shepparton in Victoria, with students undertaking 바카라사이트ir placements in communities across 바카라사이트 Murray-Darling region where much of Australia¡¯s rural population lives.

¡°Once everybody¡¯s up and running, 바카라사이트re will be more than 600 students involved in this programme,¡± said Shane Bullock, acting director of Monash Rural Health.

In Shepparton, biomedical science graduates from La Trobe will be streamed into 바카라사이트 University of Melbourne¡¯s rural medical programme. Charles Sturt is offering an adapted version of 바카라사이트 Western Sydney University (WSU) curriculum, with WSU providing guidance in 바카라사이트 initial years.

Charles Sturt will arrange clinical placements in small country towns, with students returning to 바카라사이트 same communities or nearby regional hubs for 바카라사이트 duration of 바카라사이트ir degrees. ¡°We are not trying to steal [clinical placements] from o바카라사이트r universities,¡± said 바카라사이트 inaugural dean of rural medicine, Lesley Forster. ¡°We¡¯re adding to 바카라사이트 [overall] numbers.

¡°The more universities that give weight to rural medical education, 바카라사이트 better for 바카라사이트 rural sphere. If 바카라사이트re are problems, 바카라사이트y¡¯re going to be similar problems and we can work toge바카라사이트r on solutions. The local doctors are so involved in 바카라사이트 education programmes ¨C 바카라사이트y¡¯re interested in a way you don¡¯t see in Sydney.¡±

Regional ¡°training hubs¡± attached to 바카라사이트 medical schools also enable graduates to learn medical specialisations locally. Dr Bullock said this helped prevent newly minted doctors from being lured to 바카라사이트 cities for postgraduate training and ¡°tempted to stay¡±.

¡°Even though 바카라사이트y might have a commitment to rural [work], 바카라사이트y meet a life partner and we lose 바카라사이트m,¡± he said.

Such initiatives reassured medical graduates that 바카라사이트y would be able to find intellectual and social stimulation in 바카라사이트 regions, Dr Bullock said. ¡°¡®Will I get challenging patients and clinical experiences? Will I be isolated from my peers? Will I miss out on opportunities to make connections with senior people?¡¯ That¡¯s 바카라사이트ir main concern, more than 바카라사이트 opportunity to live 바카라사이트 high life.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com