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A fresh perspective on rural practice The case for an urban to rural change – a new Fellow’s journey
From the hustle and bustle of Sydney’s north shore to the laid-back atmosphere of Griffith in regional New South Wales, Dr Zainab Naseem has found what is elusive in the profession—a work-life balance. And this change in scenery came care of a pilot initiative delivered by RACS through the Specialist Training Program (STP), funded by the Australian Department of Health and called the New Fellow Rural Placement (NFRP).
Dr Naseem took advantage of all the opportunities that were available. She is currently involved in several research projects at the hospital and has applied for a clinical lecturer position with the University of New South Wales. She also teaches junior doctors, registrars and medical students. On top of that, she’s doing her Master of Philosophy in Colorectal Surgery. Quite a challenge for a new consultant!
The NFRP started in 2020 with two rural sites, and in 2021, two more sites were added including Griffith Base Hospital. During her search for employment and with limited openings still available, Dr Naseem took a gamble and applied for the new Fellow position at the Griffith Base Hospital in rural New South Wales. There was a lot of apprehension about the application since she was coming from a bigger urban hospital with a notable caseload for surgeons. With funding support available for salary, professional development and relocation, Dr Naseem felt it was worth finding out what life could be like as a rural surgeon. After completing the recruitment process, she was accepted and started in May 2021.
Dr Fitzgerald was also witness to the positive impact that the NFRP pilot had on Dr Naseem’s first year as a consultant. The exposure to a broad range of cases boosted her skills development and her ability to handle difficult situations. “The degree of generality is quite different to what you do in metropolitan areas, but you also don’t have that back up, like intensive care, vascular and cardiothoracic. So, I definitely think Dr Naseem is a lot more confident in her decision making.”
Dr Naseem did not know what to expect in a smaller hospital though she had expectations of what she would learn from this experience. “Typically in the first year as a Fellow, you’re required or you should be opting for a position, which can give you immense exposure in General Surgery and a bit of independence in terms of working as a junior consultant.” She dived into the role, working with her mentor—Dr Kate Fitzgerald, FRACS, Director of Surgery at Griffith Base Hospital—who supported her in cases as a secondary operator. Armed with a professional development plan,
What Dr Naseem did not expect, though, was to enjoy living in Griffith. Because she was used to the city buzz, she was surprised with the friendly colleagues, welcoming community and the easygoing lifestyle that helped her settle in. “I think it’s more like cultural shock because we are so used to all the hustle and bustle and traffic jams and you know, getting delayed and then spending more time on the roads than at home. So, it was a big shift in the living situation and culture.” Wanting to discover more about the Riverina region of New South Wales, Dr Naseem went out with colleagues to restaurants, wineries and even the local bowling centre. A day of fun at the wildlife park was also on the list
Dr Zainab Naseem with her husband, Faisal
when family members came over to visit. She found the community so friendly and welcoming that she tried getting involved in local activities, such as becoming an election volunteer in Griffith. With everything a five-minute drive away, she realised living and working in rural New South Wales offered so much more in terms of work-life balance. The warm welcome from the hospital and from the community had even extended to Dr Naseem’s family, especially during a period when her mother was undergoing cancer treatment. While carrying out her work at the hospital, Dr Naseem also became primary carer to her mother. This would have been a very challenging arrangement, but the hospital’s surgery
