Georgia Laidlaw

Georgia Laidlaw
Doctor of Medicine (third year)
Wangaratta RCS placement / Mansfield ERC placement

Last year I studied in Wangaratta. The Rural Clinical School there was exceptionally supportive and the size of the hospital was fantastic; there were plenty of patients and opportunities to learn, and we were still able to build longstanding professional relationships with the healthcare staff.

Wangaratta itself is a beautiful town that is just a short drive away from amazing adventures. We enjoyed going down to the river after clinical days in the summer and hitting the slopes in winter for some great skiing.

This year I’m at Mansfield Medical Clinic as part of the Extended Rural Cohort program. It’s allowing me to extend myself well beyond my comfort zone in a well-supported environment and I’m having a fantastic year so far.

I have really enjoyed the breadth of opportunities available through my GP practice. I love starting every day at the hospital, especially as I can follow patients throughout their entire admission and build my understanding of management in a rural setting. I also enjoy assisting with births and anaesthetics at the hospital to develop my procedural skills.

Spending time with patients during my parallel consulting appointments is very rewarding, they’re a great opportunity to really understand their stories and explore what individual factors influence their care. Patients often remark on how beneficial it is for them to have a student doctor listen to them and unpack these things.

Training rurally means I get hands-on experiences every day and can learn quickly with staff who tailor their teaching to me in a one-on-one setting. I really enjoy learning in a strong community setting.

My tip for other students: In medicine, it's important not to compare your individual progress to others. Everyone learns at their own pace and will come across different opportunities at different times.