Port Macquarie newsletter Jan 2014

Newsletter January 2014 Port Macquarie Campus

April 2013

The 2013 academic year is in the history books. 16 new doctors are ready to enter postgraduate training compliments of all — academic and administration — at the Port Macquarie Rural Clinical School. This was the first year that medical students from the Rural Clinical School received the degrees Bachelor of Medical Studies (BMed) and Doctor of Medicine (MD).

The Year Six graduates did themselves proud. We had five students graduate with distinction. Medical Faculty prize winners were Alison Beaumont for both the Combined Teaching Hospitals Senior Staff Prize for Overall Performance in Phase and Prize for Phase 3 Integrated Clinical Examination ; Corina Snedden won the faculty prize for Overall Performance in Obstetrics and Gynecology; Rebecca Kuehn won the faculty prize for Overall Performance in Phase 3 Psychiatry.

The Rural Clinical School awards prizes covering students across all four campuses of the rural clinical school program for Best Performance in Phase 3; Best Performance in Medicine and Best Performance in Surgery. This year, all three prizes were won by Alison Beaumont.

Also notable was Andrew Julian who was the first recipient of the Balnaves Scholarship for Indigenous Students to receive his medical degree from UNSW .

Congratulations to all.

On the local scene our Campus prize winners were: The Primary Care Prize given to the student who performs best in the Phase 3 Primary Care Module – donated by the Mid North Coast GP Training Consortium – went to Alison Beaumont The Obstetrics and Gynaecology Prize given to the student who performs best in the Phase 3 Obstetrics and Gynaecology Module – donated by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and presented by Dr. Ray Hodgson – went to Corina Snedden.

The Surgery Prize given to the student who performs best during surgical rounds and bedside tutorials – donated by the Department of Surgery and presented by Dr. John Gan – went to Alison Beaumont.

The Psychiatry Prize given to the graduating student who performs best in the phase 3 psychiatry module—donated and presented by Drs Marie Shaw and Meredith Hinds– was won by Rebecca Kuehn

The Medicine Prize given to the student who performs best during medical rounds and bedside tutorials – donated by the department of medicine and presented by Dr. Mike Prowse – was won by Alison Beaumont.

The Head of Campus Award given to the student who performs best throughout Phase 3 went to – you guessed it – Alison Beaumont.

A number of awards were given to recognize the valuable input of our tutors.

Rookie of the Year – given to a tutor in his first year teaching at the rural clinical school – was won by Dr. David Chessor.

Registrar Tutor of the Year– in recognition of the valuable input of registrars to medical student teaching – was won by Dr. Bosco Wu.

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The I Didn’t Know They Did Medicine Outside of Hospital award – went to Port Macquarie Family Physicians Debbie Kors and Jan Snow.

The I Didn’t Know You Could Teach Medical Students If You Weren’t a Doctor award – went to PMBH pharmacist and stalwart portfolio examiner Rachel Taylor.

The Award for Teaching the Least Appealing Part of the Curriculum in the Most Appealing Manner – Dr. Aiveen Bannon who has strived and succeeded in making the Phase 2 Society and Health module an enjoyable and educational experience for the Phase 2 students.

This year's Tutor(s) of the Year as voted upon by the student body— and the final plaque on the inaugural Tutor of the Year shield – went to Drs. Ray Hodgson and Mike Prowse - well done guys.

Thank you to all the tutors for their valuable input to this year's graduating class.

New Staff We would like to welcome Rebecca Eakin – to the campus.

Bec joins the MEDiSIM Port Macquarie Team this year. Bec is a Registered Nurse with 10 years experience predominately in the cardiac field.

She has taught at the Rural Clinical School on a casual basis across both Phase 2 and 3. We are happy to have her here on the MEDiSIM team.

Final Notes On December 8th this year, fifth-year student James Kelly died while on elective in Tanzania. James arrived in Port Macquarie in March 2012. He completed two years of his medical degree with us here in Port Macquarie.

James touched the lives of many of us in Port Macquarie and we are all better for it. From all of us in Port Macquarie – the rural clinical school and the community – James, we will miss you very much.

A memorial for James will be held on March 21, 2014 at the Port Macquarie Rural Clinical School.

(Further information will be coming over the next 2 months)

To the administrative staff who keep the school running smoothly; to the medical and allied health staff who generously give of their time and expertise; and to all others who have added to the success of the Rural Clinical School —— My Heartfelt Thanks, Best Wishes for the New Year and See You in 2014.

Dr Alexander “Sandy” McColl B.A., B.Sc. (P.T. - Hons), M.D., C.C.F.P., F.R.A.C.G.P., F.A.C.P. Head of Campus Phone 6580 7511 a.mccoll@unsw.edu.au

UNSW Rural Clinical School, Port Macquarie Campus The University of New South Wales, 26 Highfields Circuit , P.O. Box 5596 Port Macquarie NSW 2444 Phone: 02 6580 7511 Fax: 02 6580 7500 http://rcs.med.unsw.edu.au/

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