Jasmine Davis is a recent graduate of the Doctor of Medicine and Master of Public Health at the University of Melbourne. Born and raised in regional Victoria, Jasmine is a strong advocate for rural health equity and raising awareness of the declining numbers of medical students entering general practice.
She is currently completing her medical internship at Bundaberg Hospital as part of the Queensland Rural Generalist Pathway.
What drew you to apply to work for WBHHS?
I was very lucky to receive an internship position in Queensland as part of the Queensland Rural Generalist Pathway. When putting in my preferences of where I wanted to work, the Wide Bay region really appealed to be as I wanted to be somewhere I could have the balance of regional and rural practice, with knowing I had the support and resources to be able to pursue my interests both within medicine and outside medicine. I spoke to many doctors who had either done placement as a student, or worked as a doctor in the region, and everyone spoke very highly of the opportunities and culture within the health service.
Have you always had an interest is Regional medicine/ hospitals?
I grew up in a beachside town in regional Victoria, and although I moved to Melbourne to begin my University studies, I quickly realised that I didn’t love living in a big city, and really missed the community aspect of regional and rural life. I was really privileged to complete all of my clinical placements in regional and rural Victoria which cemented my love for rural health, as I found that I not only loved living in regional and rural areas, but also became equally passionate about working towards reducing the health inequities that exist between metropolitan and rural and remote Australians.
What was your reaction when you found out you would be moving to Bundy?
I received my offer to work in Bundy whilst I was living a few hours from the snow in the middle of Victorian winter so I was incredibly excited that I was moving somewhere with a bit more sunshine! Other than that, after many years of study I have been very excited to get started in the workforce, and Bundaberg Hospital had a good reputation within the rural health community, so I knew that although it would be a challenging year, I would be well supported.
Do you believe there are any benefits to completing your intern year in a regional setting?
Absolutely! Doing your internship in a regional setting and a smaller hospital means that you are much more likely to receive the support and teaching you need to grow as a junior doctor in an environment where your supervisors and colleagues get to know you and your specific learning needs. Alongside this, you are much more likely to find a work-life balance without having to worry about paying for parking, commuting to work, and being surrounded by beautiful beaches, nature, wildlife and further opportunities outside of medicine.
What are you most looking forward to during your intern year?
I’m really looking forward to my General Practice rotation as I am very passionate about preventative medicine and the work that GPs do in primary care to keep people well and out of the hospital system. Getting to spend 10 weeks in general practice in my internship is a unique opportunity that not many people especially in larger city hospitals get access to, so I am excited to contribute to that part of the healthcare system.
It has only been a few weeks’, but do you have a highlight from your time in Bundaberg yet?
My highlight has definitely been finishing work and driving straight to the beach for an evening swim – getting to explore the Wide Bay region and all its beauty has really made the beginning of full time work feel very balanced!