A country practice

For third-year medical student, Jacky Chen (BBiomed 2021), a six-week clinical placement in Euroa exposed him to much more than how a thriving medical practice operates. Jacky got a taste of what it’s like to live and work as a GP in a rural town.

“It pushed me out of my comfort zone, because I love city life. But I deliberately chose to do my placement in a rural setting because I wanted to have that experience as part of my medical degree,” says Jacky.

“Being in a more isolated setting gives you the chance to meet new people, which naturally helps improve communication skills. You also get to see how rural GPs often build lifelong relationships with their patients. There’s a deep sense of trust and respect patients have for their GPs.”

Jacky was based at Euroa Medical Family Practice, where he was supervised by Dr Malcolm Altson (MBBS 1977), who is a long-time supporter of Melbourne Medical School’s clinical placement program. Dr Altson has been a GP in Euroa for 42 years.

We’ve had medical students at the practice for more than 40 years. They offer different perspectives and keep us on our toes — it’s a mutual learning process says Dr Malcolm Altson.

“In medicine and in practice, a lot of your decisions become almost automatic and when you have to justify or explain a medical decision to a student, it clarifies in your own mind why you do certain things.”

Jacky observed routine medical consultations between patients and GPs and assisted in the medical treatment room where less serious emergencies were treated.

“I saw a number of minor surgeries and excisions and trauma cases managed on site. Another great experience was accompanying Dr Altson to home consultations, where I could see more of the countryside and speak with patients in their homes,” says Jacky.

At this stage, Jacky is interested in specialising in cardiology, respiratory medicine or anaesthetics, but the clinical placement has also piqued an interest in working in a rural setting as a GP.

This placement not only strengthened my clinical skills but also deepened my respect for the crucial role that GPs play in rural communities. It was an invaluable experience that reaffirmed my interest in rural healthcare he says.

“Jacky was a very enthusiastic student. He participated in every activity and opportunity on offer and he also enjoyed coming out to my farm and planting trees and splitting firewood in his spare time,” says Dr Altson.

“I’d certainly recommend that GPs think about offering clinical placements. It’s good to keep your own practice on its toes and it’s well and truly worth the effort.”