Destination Medicine Podcast
by Regional Training Hubs
Opportunities for a successful medical career in rural Australia are immense. The Destination Medicine© podcast library has been created to assist anyone who has thought about a career as a rural doctor to make informed decisions and navigate a rural medical pathway with greater confidence.Each episode of this podcast series brings the story of a doctor and their journey into rural medicine. It hasn't been a straight highway for many; there have been a few bumps, U-turns and bends along the way. How did a city slicker end up living on a farm in the Riverina of NSW? And what happened to the young doctor who had a life changing moment on an isolated highway in the Northern Territory? Well, you will have to listen to find out...and there's more.With over 23 specialities, 81 fields of speciality practice and 86 speciality titles, making career decisions can seem overwhelming for medical students and junior doctors. For some it is an easy decision, having always known the area in which th
Episodes
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Student Series: The decision you don’t make is the one made for you – Simone Stewart-Noble
Simone Stewart-Noble's path to medicine has been anything but conventional. The first person in her family to finish high school and graduate from university, she built a career across nursing, midwifery, health management and government before returning to an ambition she'd carried since high...
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Partner Series: Three priorities for balancing life and a career in medicine – Dr Rory Hampstead and Dr Dani Smith
For doctors Dani Smith and Rory Hampstead, building careers in medicine has also meant making deliberate choices about the life they want outside of it. Now based in Dubbo with their two children, Dani is completing her emergency medicine training at Dubbo Base Hospital, while Rory works as a…
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Partner Series: You can have it all, just not all at once – Dr Christopher Hayward and Dr Sonja Kauffman
Dr Sonja Kauffman and Dr Chris Hayward hadn’t planned to build their lives in rural Australia. After meeting at Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, what began as a six-month rural placement eventually became a life and career they couldn't imagine leaving behind. In this episode, they share…
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Know Your Limits. Self-Care in Rural Emergency Medicine - Associate Professor Andrew Dean
Associate Professor Andrew Dean has built a career around emergency medicine, education and a passion for regional healthcare. Based in Ballarat, his work has taken him into communities across western Victoria, supporting rural clinicians, teaching generations of medical students and junior...
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When Life Turns on a Dime. Building an Extraordinary Career Through Unexpected Opportunities – Dr Randall Greenberg
Randall Greenberg's path into medicine was anything but conventional. After leaving school unsure of his future, a chance encounter led him into psychiatric nursing before eventually studying medicine and discovering a passion for rural healthcare. Today, he is Deputy Head of the Dubbo Rural...
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ENCORE: Balancing family and study – the challenges of being a mature-age student - Lucas Quinn
For those preparing for the GAMSAT and considering a future in medicine, this encore episode offers valuable insights into the challenges and rewards of the journey ahead. Lucas Quinn spent years as a nurse before finally making the switch to medical school. As a mature-age student it has been a...
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Finding Your Tribe as an Infectious Diseases Physician in Regional Australia – Dr Aiveen Bannan
Infectious Diseases Physician Dr Aiveen Bannan has spent almost two decades building a career in infectious diseases at Port Macquarie Base Hospital in New South Wales, proving that highly specialised medicine can thrive in a regional community. From patient care and public health to teaching the...
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Doctors in Training: Choosing Family Finding Psychiatry - Dr Gabe Sanchez
Dr Gabe Sanchez never expected psychiatry to become his calling. After training as a pharmacist and pursuing a career in general surgery, he made the difficult decision to change specialties in pursuit of a career that better aligned with his values, family life and long-term goals. Now a...
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ENCORE: RDN Cadet Series: Dr Nicholas Ireland — From Welder to Rural Cadet
With 2027 RDN Cadetship applications now open, this episode is a timely reminder of where the opportunity can lead... Dr Nicholas Ireland’s journey through life to becoming a NSW Regional Doctors Network Cadet has been a long and demanding one. Expelled from boarding school in year 11, he first...
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Student Series: A winding road to rural medicine – Lachlan MacMillan
Lachlan MacMillan's route to medicine has been anything but traditional. After leaving school to become a carpenter, he spent years working across rural and remote Australia, from cattle stations and horseback tours to conservation work in the Kimberley, before a series of medical emergencies...
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ENCORE: Rescue missions and rural emergencies — Dr Jessica Martyn
ENCORE: This Thank a First Responder Day, we proudly replay this episode, celebrating those who serve and support our communities every day. Soaring to the heights of rural and remote medicine — and not just in RFDS planes — Dr Jessica Martyn has enjoyed an extremely varied and exciting career.…
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ENCORE: Student Series: Reflections on belonging — Tristan Marino’s journey from music to medicine
In recognition of National Reconciliation week, we are replaying “Reflections on belonging — Tristan Marino’s journey from music to medicine. What are your pillars of belonging? For Tristan Marino, they are his Aboriginal and Maori family, his connections to community and friends and now…
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Student Series: Hooves, Health and Higher Degrees – Natalie Vear
From suburban Queensland to clinical training in Wagga Wagga — fourth-year medical student Natalie Vear has wholly embraced rural medicine. A former exercise physiologist and postdoctoral research fellow with a PhD in exercise cardio-oncology, Nat shares how a childhood fascination with life on…
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Heart of the Red Centre: focus on what you love - Dr Angus Baumann
Dr Angus Baumnann took a long, non-linear journey into medicine, that eventually led him to specialise in cardiology. Now based in Alice Springs with his family, and deeply entrenched in the community, Angus couldn’t be happier with the trajectory of his career. He also talks about the realities…
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Student Series: The Magic of Rural Medicine – Laura Sliskovic
Laura Sliskovic put aside her desire to become an actress and pursue her passion to become a doctor, supporting remote communities with limited access to healthcare. It was through her mother’s diagnosis of breast cancer, and the challenges of living in rural Bicheno, on Tasmania’s east coast…
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ENCORE: From championship rowing to emergency medicine – Dr Daniel Stewart's circuitous journey to Dubbo
Dan's story has been captivating listeners since 2020. As our most downloaded episode of all time, we thought it was worth a relisten. In retrospect it was the perfect vocational choice. But Dr Daniel Stewart just didn't know it as he rowed hard and fast for Australia, chopping and changing...
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ENCORE: Doctors in Training: Painting your own picture - Dr Pippa Kensit
We're relaunching a few of our fave episodes for our fresh new crop of Interns – all the best for your next adventure! For Pippa Kensit, medicine always beckoned, especially because public health is where her heart is. A passion confirmed early on as she travelled abroad, and then through rural…
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ENCORE: Doctors in Training: "I want to do the best I can" – Dr Grace Nelson, rural intern and life-long learner
We're relaunching a few of our fave episodes for our fresh new crop of Interns – all the best for your next adventure! It was sage advice from an English teacher that saw Dr Grace Nelson achieve her aspirations. She was counselled to not only celebrate her good grades, but also work hard to…
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ENCORE: Doctors in Training: Dr Stephanie Pollard - Feel the fear and do it anyway
We're relaunching a few of our fave episodes for our fresh new crop of Interns – all the best for your next adventure! Dr Stephanie Pollard is a proud Ngemba woman who grew up playing sport and making mischief in Goulburn. She had more than her fair share of broken bones, but it was through those...
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ENCORE: Student Series: Resilience and a “go for it” spirit - attributes that count for Lily Hogan, a girl from the Riverina
We're relaunching a few of our fave episodes so people preparing for GAMSAT can learn from the best. When Lily Hogan was growing up on her family’s sheep and cropping farm at Bethunga in the Riverina, she had no-one to influence her towards medicine. But the idea started to dawn on her while she...
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ENCORE: Student Series: Andre McDuling - An Origin Story
We're relaunching a few of our fave episodes so people preparing for GAMSAT can learn from the best. Andre McDuling is on the verge of realising a decades-long dream: to become a doctor who caters for a rural community. Andre shares his transformative journey from IT specialist to medical doctor...
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ENCORE: Student Series: Laura Beaumont’s tips for getting into medicine - follow your dream and enjoy the journey!
We're relaunching a few of our fave episodes so people preparing for GAMSAT can learn from the best. Laura Beaumont’s life-long dream of becoming a doctor is on a road to reality as she completes her third year as a medical student at the University of Western Sydney. Her enthusiasm inspired her...
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Doctors in Training: Persistence Pays: From Farm Life to Rural Doctor – Dr Matthew Collocott
Raised on farms in both South Africa and the Northern Rivers of New South Wales, Matthew Collocott took the long road into medicine — from biomedical science at Griffith University, to four attempts at the GAMSAT, to finally securing a place at the University of Wollongong. Close-knit teams,...
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Doctors in Training: Against the Current, Toward the Goal - Dr Morgan Neasey’s Rural Journey towards orthopaedics
Dr Morgan Neasey grew up in rural northwest Tasmania, far from any clear pathway into medicine. First in her family to become a doctor and go to university, determination and community shaped her drive to help others. After studying biomedical science in Melbourne and postgraduate medicine in...
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ENCORE: Dr Rebecca Irwin — Growing roots and doing rounds in Central West Queensland
To celebrate National Rural Health Month, we’ve reached into our archive and are replaying one of our most popular rural episodes of all time. Dr Rebecca Irwin has planted her flag in the town of Barcaldine in Queensland’s Central West, and it’s here she intends staying. As a rural generalist…
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Close-Knit Community Care in Finley; Training tomorrow’s Rural Doctors. Rural Generalist A/Prof Alam Yoosuff
From Sri Lanka to small town Finley NSW. That was the path Associate Professor Alam Yoosuff and his wife took about 20 years ago. And what a journey it’s been. From becoming entrenched in the community to playing a crucial role in building the rural generalist training and single employment…
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Becoming a Book in Someone’s Library – A/Prof Deb Wilson’s Anaesthetics and Advocacy
From a farm in remote WA to becoming a rural anaesthetist in Tasmania – Deb Wilson’s path was anything but straight. She describes growing up in a family that prioritised education, reveals how a reluctant start in anaesthetics became her calling, and how she balances front-line care, and...
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ENCORE: The Rural Generalist path to professional and lifestyle fulfilment
To celebrate Rural Generalism becoming a recognised medical speciality, we've reached into the archive and are replaying our most popular RG episode of all time. Dr Teena Downton's specialisation is a great example of the diversity you can have in your work, as a GP, based in the country. You may...
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Doctors in Training: Balancing Medicine, Motherhood and Rural Life – Amanda Fulton’s Story
After starting her career as a veterinarian, Dr Amanda Fulton couldn’t ignore the calling to study medicine. At 29, she took the leap, retraining while raising a young family, and is now a trainee at Port Augusta Hospital South Australia’s Flinders Ranges. Amanda shares the challenges of stepping...
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Student Series: It Took a Village: From Paramedic to Future Rural Doctor - Emily Turnbull
Emily Turnbull began her career as a paramedic but over time, realised she could do more for her community by becoming a doctor. Now a fourth-year medical student at Dubbo Rural Clinical School and raised on a property in rural almost remote NSW, rural life is in Emily’s blood. So, it makes sense...
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Doctors in Training: From a caring community to caring for community – Dr Rhi Noble
While it might seem like medicine is for the well healed, it’s actually a course that creates opportunities for everyone. Rhi Noble, now a Junior Doctor at Lismore Base Hospital, is an extraordinary example of fighting through disadvantage, with purpose, grit, knowing exactly who she is and what...
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Doctors in Training: The best you can be is yourself - Bradley Dovenor
In year 9, Bradley Dovenor accidently discovered that one could study post-graduate medicine. It was revelatory and lit the flame for what would become a singular desire to get into medicine. As an introvert and self-described nerd, studying medicine at the University of Wollongong has not only...
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Student Series: Volunteering and the Road to Medicine – Jessica Mepstead
Jessica Mepstead gave herself two months to study for the GAMSAT. Already working as a dietician, she chose not to tell a soul until the result – she passed! She also gained some great insight and perspective on the process. And while her drive and passion are undeniable, the workload still...
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Doctors in Training: Painting your own picture - Dr Pippa Kensit
For Pippa Kensit, medicine always beckoned, especially because public health is where her heart is. A passion confirmed early on as she travelled abroad, and then through rural and reginal Australia. But it was only after becoming a nurse and going through her own back surgery, that she finally...
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Student Series: "Get yourself out there!” – Dr Liam Halford’s advice for going rural
From playing gigs in pubs to delivering babies in the Outback, Liam Halford’s journey to medicine was anything but typical. Growing up in Gawler, South Australia, with no family history in medicine, Liam discovered his passion for rural healthcare through placements in Maleny and Broken Hill. He...
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Student Series: From Tassie to the Top End — Loni Schramm’s epic journey to medicine
Growing up in rural Tasmania, Lonnie Schramm never imagined becoming a doctor — especially not in the Northern Territory. But a move to Darwin, a psychology degree and a leap of faith into medicine changed everything. Lonnie shares her unconventional journey, from self-doubt to studying medicine…
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Doctors in Training: Dr Brittney Wicksteed — Leading the way in WA
Always a country kid at heart who is training in emergency medicine, Dr Brittney Wicksteed is already emerging as a key leader in rural health in her home state of Western Australia. She’s now WA Rural Doctors in Training Chair, as well as the Vice President of the Rural Doctors Association of…
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Doctors in Training: Be kind to yourself and be kind to your colleagues – Dr Stefanie Pidcock
After two decades working to heal the planet, Dr Stefanie Pidcock made a huge change, pivoting to a career of healing individuals in a rural setting. And this ecologist-turned-medic hasn’t looked back. Dr Pidcock shares her journey to healthcare, describing why she enthusiastically recommends…
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Dr Courtney-Anne Blackhall — Where everybody knows your name
Living where people know your name, and are keen to stop and chat, is high on Dr Courtney-Anne Blackhall’s priority list for life, as is having a broad-based career in this friendly environment. So the Northern Rivers, with its beaches, restaurants and cool sea breezes is the perfect location to...
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City convert finds a remarkable career as a rural generalist – Dr Emma Jones
Growing up a city kid, it hadn’t dawned on Dr Emma Jones that she could and would dedicate herself to being a Rural Generalist. Then a conversation with other medical students about the benefits of living regionally led her to the John Flynn Prevocational Doctor Program. Taking part in rural...
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Student Series: From crisis to calling — Jack Howard's journey to medicine
A frightening experience at the age of 16 prompted Jack Howard to study medicine. He was on a country road when his grandfather experienced chest pains, and Jack didn’t know how to help except to drive at speed to the nearest country hospital. With limited guidance and no real medical role…
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Doctors in Training: From marketing to medicine – Kalgoorlie’s Dr Anna Western
It's certainly not a common trajectory — from an established career in graphic design and marketing to medicine — but that’s the extraordinary career path of Dr Anna Western, a Rural Clinical School of WA alumna now working in that state’s Goldfields region. Anna discusses her choices and the...
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Rescue missions and rural emergencies — Dr Jessica Martyn
Soaring to the heights of rural and remote medicine — and not just in RFDS planes — Dr Jessica Martyn has enjoyed an extremely varied and exciting career. Dr Martyn, who is now the Head of Unit at the Port Augusta Hospital Emergency Department, has a passion for emergency medicine and regional...
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Doctors in Training: Dr Katie Barnes – first, female and flying high
From learning to winch out of a helicopter to providing critical care in the most demanding circumstances, Dr Katie Barnes spends her career undertaking risky retrieval missions for patients. It’s an extraordinary specialisation, and one she says can be terrifying. Growing up in Byron Bay, Katie…
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Doctors in Training: Dr Isaac Taylor – surf and service in South Australia
The pristine beaches, the effortless rural lifestyle and participating in a welcoming community. It was all too much for Dr Isaac Taylor to resist. So he’s returned to the place he grew up in to serve the communities of South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula. In this episode of 'Destination Medicine'…
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Dr Andrew Moreton – The only limit is your imagination
It’s hard to beat the regional doctor lifestyle. That’s according to veteran Dubbo GP Dr Andrew Moreton, who has dedicated his career to lifetime care in regional NSW. He’s had the opportunity to bring up his children on a small property just a few minutes from town while practicing a varying...
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Flying high — Dr Scott Lewis’ journey home to regional SA
If you are planning to practice in an area the size of South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula, it helps if you buy a plane and learn to fly. That’s how Dr Scott Lewis brings crucial GP and anaesthetist services to his huge patch of rural and remote Australia. In this episode of Destination Medicine, Dr...
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Dr John Floridis — Top End adventures in remote medicine
There is so much to be learned from the vastly experienced Dr John Floridis, a pharmacist-turned rural generalist and advanced emergency medicine trainee. As well as being a rural and remote family doctor, John is a GP anaesthetist and a medical retrieval consultant who spent almost a decade...
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Student Series: Georgia Goodhew on where her "heart really lies"
We all owe something to our mothers, but medical student Georgia Goodhew is especially grateful to hers. When Georgia finally realised a girl could become a doctor, it was her mother who stood beside her in the face of many detractors. In this episode of Destination Medicine, Georgia shares her...
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A Tiny Town Triumph – Dr Emmy Hennell
Running her own practice in a “top ten” tiny town, Dr Emmy Hennell is a rural GP in a position to sit back and survey her great achievements, wrapped in the arms of a supportive community. From her home in Tumby Bay, South Australia, Dr Hennell shares her extraordinary story, from growing up as…
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About this show
Opportunities for a successful medical career in rural Australia are immense. The Destination Medicine© podcast library has been created to assist anyone who has thought about a career as a rural doctor to make informed decisions and navigate a rural medical pathway with greater confidence.Each episode of this podcast series brings the story of a doctor and their journey into rural medicine. It hasn't been a straight highway for many; there have been a few bumps, U-turns and bends along the way. How did a city slicker end up living on a farm in the Riverina of NSW? And what happened to the young doctor who had a life changing moment on an isolated highway in the Northern Territory? Well, you will have to listen to find out...and there's more.With over 23 specialities, 81 fields of speciality practice and 86 speciality titles, making career decisions can seem overwhelming for medical students and junior doctors. For some it is an easy decision, having always known the area in which th
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Regional Training Hubs