Medical Dean’s parting words of wisdom

When Professor Richard Murray first headed out to work as a remote GP, he had no idea what the next 30 years would bring, nor what impact his career would have on the next generation of doctors.
 
After 14 years working as a GP in the Kimberley region of Western Australia with his wife, Associate Professor Sophia Couzos, and young family, Professor Murray started at James Cook University (JCU) in 2005 and became central in overseeing unprecedented growth in its health and medical programs.
 
After nearly 20 years at the helm of some of north Queensland’s most innovative developments in medicine, including the establishment of JCU’s Rural Clinical School, Professor Murray is stepping down as the Dean of the College of Medicine and Dentistry.
 
When Professor Murray first started out, he described working in regional general practice as more of a ‘choose your own adventure’.
 
‘From the late 80s and early 90s, that was really the beginnings of the organised rural movement in medicine in Australia,’ he told newsGP.
 
‘Up until that time, those of us who put together the tools and experiences that you need really did it ourselves.
 
‘It was mostly a question of picking up work and jobs that gave you those experiences.’
 
Since turning his attention to education, Professor Murray has been pivotal in fostering the remote and regional workforce.
 
‘Selecting students and training them within and for communities that are most in need works and I’ve seen it work,’ he said.
 
Although JCU stepped away from general practice training this year, with the RACGP taking up training responsibilities in the region, Professor Murray says his educational legacy is in good hands.
 
‘The RACGP, as a core part of what it was founded for, is in the business of education, training and standards for general practice,’ he said.
 
‘That aspect of the college’s work, the core business of an accredited professional college, is the real strength of the RACGP.’
 
Professor Murray says he has seen the scope of practice for GPs narrow over time, but not so much in remote and rural areas – an approach he thinks should be developed more widely.
 
‘There’s been an increasing emphasis upon narrowing specialties and focused expertise, which has tended to erode and impinge upon the scope of practice available for GPs,’ he said.
 
‘What we have seen that’s positive, over the period that I’ve been involved, is the rise and recognition of the need to specifically train for a broad scope and skill set in rural environments.
 
‘It’s my hope and intent to do what I can to make sure that the same broad skills be applied as well in metropolitan settings because I think that’s better care, as patients and communities are much better served by someone who is able to turn their hands to most things.’
 
His advice for GPs coming into their own careers now, is to follow what has meaning for them.
 
‘Pursue opportunities that are going to give you a sense of interest and career impact while you can, and you never know where that leads,’ he said.
 
‘I would never have imagined that I would have done what I’ve done.
 
‘Follow what has meaning, what seems right.’
 
It is also never too early to try your hand at education, Professor Murray adds.
 
‘Get involved in teaching training from the earliest you possibly can as you’re never too young to be bringing on the next generation,’ he said.
 
‘Also, be active in health policy locally and making things work in your town, in your area, in your suburb, in your community, and then continue to build upon that.
 
‘You can think about generalism in terms of patients who you look after, the families that you’re involved in, the practices and the colleagues, but you can also think about it more broadly, too, as within the healthcare system.’
 
As for the next step in his career, Professor Murray says he won’t be stepping back from his advocacy in rural health.
 
‘I’ll be taking up opportunities that will let me continue to have a part in strengthening rural healthcare, so watch this space,’ he said.
 
‘I intend to continue to remain involved in making rural health matter within communities, with colleges, with universities and with governments.’
 
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general practice training GP workforce James Cook University JCU regional healthcare rural and regional general practice