The city boy who became an award-winning rural GP

Dr James McLeod is living proof there is no need to grow up in the wilderness to thrive as a rural GP.
 
Raised in Adelaide, he heard the call of country general practice early.
 
‘I always just loved going out to the countryside and then, I don’t know, I just always thought that I would be a country doctor and a country GP,’ he told newsGP.
 
His enthusiasm was encouraged at Flinders University as his studies progressed.
 
‘I had some good mentorship when I was younger regarding general practice,’ he said.  
 
‘When I was a student in my third year of my degree, I got to do a whole year in Renmark and basically that just clinched it for me.
 
‘I just had some excellent experiences and it’s just a very, very fun, exciting job. I love it.’
 
More than 10 years ago, Dr McLeod returned to Renmark in the far north-east corner of South Australia to chase his dream as a fellowed GP – and has just become the inaugural winner of the new RACGP Rural Generalist of the Year award.
 
Acknowledging he was ‘a bit stunned’ when he got the news, he is also grateful the award is showcasing the newly recognised specialty.

‘It’s great to see because there’s obviously a lot of rural generalists out there that have got a big skillset, and some that have got a plenty bigger skillset than me,’ he said.
 
‘There’s some really talented doctors out there that are working in the country and providing an amazing service, so it has been really good to see better focus, coverage and prestige regarding the rural generalist title.’
 
His award acknowledges him for showing the ‘true spirit’ of rural generalism in Renmark, where he is not only the local GP, but an emergency department consultant at the Riverland General Hospital.
 
However, for Dr McLeod an essential part of the role is also passing knowledge on, including with his work as a clinical educator for Flinders University.
 
‘It’s definitely all about paying it back,’ he said.
 
‘That’s one of the most important things in medicine, that we educate the next generations.
 
‘It keeps it fresh too. Teaching students means you have to keep your medical knowledge and your skills sharp, because the students often ask very tricky questions and you want to make sure you’re trying to keep one step ahead of them.’
 
He encourages those thinking about following in his footsteps to give it a try.
 
‘I would say definitely at least do one rotation rurally,’ he said.
 
‘Normally there’s more positions available than there are registrars to fill the positions, so it’s quite easy to do a six-month term.
 
‘Just give it a go and see if you like it because it’s a fantastic career.’
 
He advises budding medical students to see what placements universities offer, while urging those set on going into rural general practice to try and establish an effective support network early on.
 
‘Without a good clinical team, a good team at the hospital, without some social contacts and without friends or family, it is tricky,’ he said.  
 
‘I couldn’t do my job without those supports.’
 
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