CPMC National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Medical ...

speaker thought about thedown side to their job…..Havingthe actual path into a surgicalcareer [explained] was also verybeneficial….knowing exactlywhat was needed, and alsohaving been told the numbersthat get through each year wasreally good. It was told to usin a realistic way that wasn’tdiscouraging, just clear”.Nicole Whitson is in hersecond year of medicine atthe University of Newcastle.Nicole’s ultimate dream is tobe a cardiothoracic surgeon.“Before this conferencecommenced, I was unsure as tothe process of entering surgicaltraining programs and the pathinto surgery. However, by itsconclusion, I was not only awareof the preparations necessaryto become a surgeon, I wasdefinite in becoming a surgeonthat is strong, independentand capable, one that is a rolemodel for my people and mycommunity”.For Nicole the highlight of theconference was the medicalimagining and suturingworkshops she participated in.“These workshops have taughtme some great skills that Iwill be able to use as a juniordoctor as not many medicalstudents have the opportunityto learn the different suturingtechniques before they start theirpractical work. I was extremelyamazed in myself to be able tocatch on quickly to the suturingtechniques that the presenterswere showing us”.Nicole was pleased that femalesurgeons were among thespeakers. “As a female hearingthese women talk about theirtransition into a surgical careerand being able to juggle being amother and wife was extremelyencouraging. It was inspiring tosee that these strong womenwere able to accomplish allof these roles, both in theircareer as a surgeon and as amatriarchal figure in their family,and that they can be donewithout compromise”.Guy Dennis is a proud Wiradjuri/Worimi -man from Nelson Bayin NSW, and is a third yearmedical student at the Universityof New South Wales. “Myjourney to medicine began withmy experience with health,illness and surgery within myfamily growing up. This gaveme the initial spark for wantingto pursue a health profession,specifically around surgery”.“The conference helped create afoundation of knowledge for methat I will need to help make thisdream come true in the future”.“I found it highlyrewarding to beable to hear thesurgeons give theirpresentations andthen mingle withthem afterwards..”I learnt that yes, it is not an easypath, and yes it required a lot ofhard work and then some, but itwill not seem like work if I pursuethe right field, as I will be doingwhat I love…… Knowing thelogistics of how I could becomea surgeon gave me a timelineto develop in my mind of whenI would need to start submittingapplications and really playingwith what field I may pursue. …..Ifound that the speakers who hadchildren gave me good ideas asto how I may balance a familywhilst being a surgeon. They alsogave me an idea of the diversityof locations one may live in as asurgeon and how this may differfor each specialty”.Sophie Stevenson is in her fifthyear of medicine at the Universityof Otago. Being more advancedin her studies and clinicalexperience, Sophie found valuein other parts of the program.“I really enjoyed the studentpresentations on research thatthey had been involved with, asI found it relevant and tailoredto the audience. There are veryfew opportunities throughoutthe year where we are exposedto new research that is easilyaccessible to students. It isreally nice to acknowledgepeers who are out there doingextracurricular research. I thinkthat raising the awareness ofthis also creates more interestto undertake research….Theacademic surgery workshop wasvery interesting and informative.The speakers were bothsurgeons who were finishingtheir PhDs, which was definitelyan area of surgery I was lessaware of. I enjoyed the smallergroup sessions as they wereless formal than the whole grouppresentations which allowed formore discussion of the topics.I think I took the most fromthis workshop, and research isdefinitely something I would lookat doing now and later in mycareer”.The conference was a successon many fronts. All the studentswere grateful for the chance toconnect with other Indigenousmedical students, make newfriends or catch up with oldclassmates. One studentsummed up the conferenceas, “making friends for life, inan environment that was bothfulfilling and educational, is afantastic experience that I willnever forget”.For further information on RACSwork in Indigenous health pleasevisitRoyal Australasian College ofSurgeons | Indigenous HealthCommittee or contact the IHCSecretariat on 03-92767407CPMC NATSIMSFP Newsletter | July 2013 | Page 16