Zachary Hunt’s reasons for pursuing a medical career are deeply personal.
His inspiration and motivation come from seeing the numerous health challenges faced by his grandparents and his sister who has cerebral palsy.
Witnessing these interactions with dedicated healthcare professionals combined with a love of science and learning has only has deepened his resolve to dedicate his studies and long-term career to helping others.
Zach has started his first rotation or “work in the real world” in a GP clinic after six years of study with James Cook University.
As a born and bred Mackay local, he is thrilled to start his internship with Mackay HHS and return to his family and hometown.
“I’ve actually spent the last two years here in Mackay as a JCU student after four years studying in Townsville and I really enjoyed all my placements here at the Base hospital,” he said.
“I had a lot of different opportunities in the hospital and gained a variety of experience and procedural skills. The supervisors were all very helpful and I know my way around so that made it an easier transition to stay for my internship.”
Zach is following the Rural Generalist Pathway and is looking forward to eventually joining the training program to become rural generalist who works in regional areas such as Bowen, Proserpine and Sarina.
“I think I’ll enjoy rural generalism for the variety of work – you don’t just do one job day in day out,” he said.
“One day you can be in the GP clinic, the next in the ED or doing ward rounds in the hospital.”
Zach has done placements in Townsville, the Atherton Tablelands, Charters Towers and Longreach as well as a two-week stint in Charleville with the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Each was a unique learning opportunity and very valuable experience prior to becoming an intern.
“This internship is the opportunity to keep developing my skills and my knowledge and is an opportunity to put into practice a lot of things that I’ve learnt through uni and placement,” he said.
“It’s also about getting to actually experience what working in some of these fields and regions is actually really like.
“I think many JCU interns consider rural generalism as an option because we do a lot of rural placements and it’s very interesting and eye opening for graduates,” he said.
“Obviously I’ve done placements in different areas but working as an intern in the real world but still under supervision will be very different.”
Visiting remote communities with the flying doctors also helped cement his career path.
“Flying to all those very small remote communities with only 80 people and then back to base made Charleville actually feel like the big city.” Zach said.
“It’s these type of experiences and my placements in hospitals like Charters Towers and Longreach which have given me a lot more confidence with being an intern now.”
Zach’s first rotation in Mackay is at Southside Medical where he sees a range of GP patients with a variety of conditions.
“It’s very nerve wracking starting my career, but I’m very excited to now use all the skills I’ve learned – there is definitely a bit of imposter syndrome kicking in with starting to learn to be a real doctor in the real world.”
A career in regional medicine holds enormous appeal for many other reasons too.
“My family are super happy for me to be home again. I think they’re very proud of how far I’ve come and where I’m heading,” Zach said.
“They are very supportive of me starting my career and staying here to work.
“I do think our rural towns such as Proserpine and Bowen have a lot to offer with the hospitals being a really good size and with a great mix of presentations.”
