GP ‘speed dates’ show students the value of general practice

The RACGP was front and centre at the largest student-run conference in the world over the weekend, showing the benefits of general practice at the Australian Medical Students Association (AMSA) convention.
 
The AMSA event is aimed at inspiring the next generation of doctors and hosts more than 800 medical students from Australia and New Zealand, with its 65th event held in Melbourne this year.
 
And RACGP Registrar Medical Educator Dr Daniel Phan did something a little bit different.
 
Participating a doctor-student ‘speed dating’ session, Dr Phan offered first-hand advice to students about the breadth of medicine and diverse career opportunities available as a GP.
 
‘We were met with great enthusiasm and some very insightful questions about the transition from being student to working as a doctor,’ he told newsGP.
 
‘It is emerging from the students’ perspectives that general practice is being recognised as an attractive career pathway, with flexibility, work-life balance and the ability to practice holistic care across all aspects of medicine.’
 
This event is just one of more than 200 activities the RACGP has been involved in this year, to raise the profile of the diversity and breadth of a career in general practice amongst students and junior doctors.
 
These efforts come in light of a decline in interest in general practice, with the number of final year medical students whose first-choice career option being general practice falling in recent years.
 
Dr Phan hopes his engagement with the medical students helps with RACGP’s ongoing effort will lure back up-and-coming doctors to the workforce.
 
‘I hope that more future doctors will consider general practice as a career choice that enables them to pursue their particular interests in medicine whilst being able to retain skills to work as a true generalist,’ he said.
 
‘The AMSA conference is a great opportunity for medical students to gather and learn about the breadth and opportunities in medicine outside of their regular curriculum.’
 
RACGP Victoria Chair Dr Anita Muñoz delivered a plenary speech at the event, with the theme of inspiring the next generation of the rewards of a career in general practice.
 
Led by rural RACGP Medical Educator Dr Romey Giles, four college GP registrars also formed a panel to share what they wished their known when they began working as a hospital doctor, as well as tips and resources to help students with the transition.
 
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