In late July, GPSN ran its annual First Steps event at the University of Notre Dame, with more than 70 medical students from all over NSW in attendance to hear about the GP career pathway and learn valuable clinical skills.
Designed for first and second-year students, this year’s event included the following guest speakers:
- Dr Nadia Clifton (RACGP)
- Dr Will Errington (RACGP)
- Major (Dr) Bella Todd
- Dr Jackson Blythe
- Professor Charlotte Hespe
- Ella Roch-Perks (NSW Rural Doctors Network).
Joined by GPRA, RACGP, and the ADF, all of the NSW GPSN Clubs had members attending this year’s special occasion.
Following Dr Errington’s skills presentation, GPSN set up activity stations for the students to learn and practise clinical skillsets.
Students got their first taste of suturing with Dr Errington and his team of GP registrars, working with suturing equipment to suture the wounds on pork and synthetic skin.
The next set of clinical skills activities saw students undertake an ostoscopy workshop where they examined structures of the ear, followed by a fundoscopy workshop examining the retina.
GPSN Notre Dame University Chair Andrea Zdral said it was fantastic to see students practise, interact, and share their thoughts on these essential activities with each other.
“It was really exciting for all the attendees to get hands-on clinical experience they might not have experienced yet,” said Andrea.
“The event was once again a huge success, and students found it incredibly useful and perspective changing in the consideration of GP as a future career.
“The students were really interested to hear the speakers to talk about the various pathways available in general practice, and dispel some of the myths about being a GP.
“They were also able to speak directly with the GPs and registrars about their careers and their journeys so far.
“A huge thank you to all attendees, speakers and our sponsors for another wonderful GPSN event promoting general practice as a career option for our local medical students.”
The event also included lucky door prizes provided by GPSN, GPRA and RACGP, as well as support from sponsor Medical Indemnity Protection Society (MIPS), and a post-event networking session.
GPSN would also like to thank the following tutors who assisted on the day:
- Dr Alex Zheng
- Dr Elspeth Fotheringham
- Dr Stephanos Eliades
- Dr Xiaoyi Zhai
- Dr Henry Yan
- Dr Robert Stuart.
This event was run with the support of our sponsors:
