Rural GP role showcased to SA’s future doctors

Medical students across South Australia have been given a firsthand look at the breadth and opportunities of general practice, as RACGP-backed events sought to inspire the next generation of GPs and Rural Generalists (RGs).
 
Throughout August, RACGP SA supported a series of career and rural medicine events, connecting students with practising GPs and registrars to provide insight into training pathways, career opportunities, and life working in regional communities.
 
One such event was the General Practice Students Network Flinders and Adelaide career pathways evening, which brought together medical students from across the state.
 
Here, the RACGP was represented by SA Deputy Chair Dr Clare Keogh, SA Council member Dr David Lam, and SA Registrar Liaison Officer Dr Adriano Barilla, who shared their experiences and advice on pursuing careers in general practice and rural generalism.
 
Students also travelled to Clare for the Adelaide University Rural Health Alliance (AURHA) ‘A Day in the Life of a Rural GP’ event, which offered an immersive introduction to rural medicine.
 
The program included presentations from local doctors, procedural skills workshops, and a tour of the local hospital, allowing students to experience rural healthcare beyond the classroom.
 
RACGP Medical Educator and RG Dr Kari Sims is passionate about helping doctors in training understand the realities of rural medicine.
 
‘You cannot really understand what RGs do if you don’t see it,’ she told newsGP.
 
‘You need to expose health professionals while they are training to the positive aspects and unique challenges of rural medicine.
 
‘Whether you assist with increasing understanding of context when accepting a patient for transfer, encourage a future specialist to visit rural areas, or start the adventure of a future RG, being involved with opportunities like the AURHA Rural GP event is important.’
 
Dr Sims said the variety of work available in rural medicine is one of the profession’s biggest drawcards.
 
‘The beauty of general practice, and especially rurally, is that you get to make it what you want and you never know what adventure you will go on each day,’ she said.
 
Rural GP Dr Kirsten Densley, who also supported the Clare event, said working regionally has given her opportunities to make a meaningful difference in her community.
 
‘I enjoy knowing my patients and often their whole families, not just their medical problems, and love the diversity of general practice,’ she told newsGP.
 
‘Working rurally has helped me learn more clinical courage and take more steps to advocate for our community than perhaps I would have done if I’d stayed working in metropolitan areas.’
 
Dr Densley said exposure during medical school can play an important role in shaping future career decisions.
 
‘I hope I’ve been able to encourage the medical students to consider working in the regions, and to have a respect for some of the challenges that our regional patients face when travelling to the city for medical care,’ she said.
 
AURHA Medical Representative Aprita Page said students responded positively to the hands-on nature of the Clare program and the opportunity to speak directly with practising doctors.
 
‘We hope students left with a genuinely realistic and inspiring insight into what rural medicine looks like day to day,’ she told newsGP.
 
‘Beyond seeing the breadth of clinical practice, we wanted students to experience the strong sense of community, the close-knit and supportive healthcare teams, and how rewarding a career as a rural GP can be.’
 
The college was also represented at the Adelaide Medical Students’ Society Careers Conference, where SA Registrar Liaison Officer Dr Jade Pisaniello joined a panel discussion on specialty pathways and training experiences, offering students further insight into a career in general practice.
 
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