Providing holistic care for our young patients and their families is a life-long passion for paediatric staff specialist Dr Clara Menezes.
After seven years of working in Mackay Base Hospital’s Child and Adolescent Unit, Dr Menezes has bid farewell to the place she calls home after deciding to move to New South Wales.
“Prior to working at Mackay Base Hospital, I worked mainly in tertiary centres for twenty years, where I would “treat the child for the condition they are referred for,” she said.
“You can be a true paediatrician here. It’s not like you are just managing a few conditions for the patient, you provide care for them and their family as a whole.”
Dr Menezes first came to Mackay Base Hospital in 2011 and initially only stayed for a year but knew she wanted to come back as soon as possible. In 2015, when her son had finished his schooling, Dr Menezes packed up her life and returned to the tropics.
“When I started off at Mackay Base Hospital, my intention was to stay here forever but sometimes life doesn’t go the way we want,” she said.
“I love this place, and everyone knows it. This is like a home to me and it will remain that way.”
Dr Menezes particularly loves the family spirit at the Mackay Base Hospital, especially within the paediatric department. She credits her colleagues for helping her become the paediatrician she is today.
“We work as a team with the final goal to provide the best of care for the child and to their family.
“I am thankful for all my support networks over the years from my nursing, allied health and child safety colleagues.
“Mackay is the best place and has an excellent team of professionals I learned my medicine from. We have very well-trained clinicians.”
