With the general practice landscape undergoing some major structural reform, it is easy to lose focus of what initially drew you to it in the first place. For all the changes, the face of general practice in the future will undoubtedly be the junior leaders of today. That’s why we asked three members of the National Executive about their hopes moving into the profession, challenges they would like addressed, and why they chose general practice to scope how young medical students feel.
Ellie Egarr
GPSN Secretary 2022
What attracted you to general practice?
The variety of care was what first attracted me to general practice – never knowing what is going to walk through the door is an exciting prospect. What kept me interested was the continuity of care and work life balance that can be part of being a GP.
What are you looking forward to in your career in the future?
I’m looking forward to caring for patients throughout their life and caring for their parents, grandparents, children and grandchildren – really being the family doctor.
What do you hope to achieve as a GP for yourself and patients?
I hope to provide continuity of care for my patients throughout all stages of their life. I am looking forward to the variety that general practice provides, from prescriptions to procedures.
Navi Dhaliwal
GPSN National Vice Chair 2022
What attracted you to general practice?
General Practice is a field with many perks that make it a highly desirable specialty. For me, the notion of continuity of patient care and holistic medicine really helped distinguish general practice from other fields. Being able to connect with patients and build long lasting relationships is something that strongly resonates with my personality. GPs are the gatekeepers of the medical profession as they are often the first point of care for many patients. Accordingly, they need to have an extensive knowledge base and skillset to be able to recognize and treat or escalate a wide range of medical conditions.
What are you looking forward to in your career in the future?
I am extremely excited to walk this career path! Throughout my medical school journey, I have been extremely fortunate to have met amazing GP mentors who have helped me grow as a medical student. Seeing how they interact with patients and the impact they have on their patient’s health is truly inspiring and something I hope to achieve as a future GP.
What do you hope to achieve as a GP, for yourself and your patients?
I hope to be a healthcare professional that my patients can trust and rely on for their individual healthcare needs. I hope to work together with my patients in a collaborative model of care to further enhance their health outcomes. As for myself, it’s trying to achieve personal gratification knowing that I am making a difference in the overall health of my patients.
Are you concerned about any particular challenges moving forward?
A concern of mine that is all too real for many practicing GPs is becoming burnt out from being overworked. GPs are particularly susceptible to this due to the extremely high volumes of patients they must see within a day. One reason is the severe under supply of GPs relative to patient demand which forces GPs to inherit a larger patient load than they would like. Another reason is the extremely outdated model for Medicare Funding, which has not been updated for quite some time, is significantly failing to keep up with the current rates of inflation and economic demands we are experiencing post-Covid.
Pia Herrera
GPSN National Sponsorship Officer 2022
What attracted you to general practice?
What initially attracted me to general practice was the diversity of presentations a GP can encounter on a day to day basis. After getting some exposure, I’ve also appreciated the continuity of care, work/life balance options, and ability to subspecialise.
What do you hope to achieve as a GP, for yourself and your patients?
I hope to sub-specialise in women’s health, allowing easier access to reproductive health and care. One day I hope to own my own general practice, offering a variety of services for the community.
Are you concerned about any particular challenges moving forward?
After being at a longitudinal placement in a rural GP clinic for the duration of last year, I was able to experience first hand the struggles of being a GP. There is a strain on the system, especially in rural areas, trying to provide for a community with increasing needs. It was clear that rural health practitioners were very strained and overworked, with the expected demand of the community of affordable healthcare. It is a concern that this valid expectation becomes more and more unrealistic, with an overworked health service with limited support from the government.
