A group of 44 intern doctors have joined the Mackay Hospital and Health Service (HHS), providing a boost to the medical team serving the region.
The intern group includes 37 doctors who are joining the team at Mackay Base Hospital, five at Proserpine Hospital and two at Bowen Hospital.
Interim Chief Executive Melissa Carter congratulated the new doctors on starting their journey in medicine and welcomed them to the Mackay HHS team.
“It’s exciting to welcome first-year doctors to our team and support them as they begin their career with the Mackay HHS,” Ms Carter said.
“They’re not only bolstering our workforce and making a real difference to our patients today, but they’re building the foundations of medical careers which will serve our community and Queensland for decades to come.
“Several of our intern doctors have already spent time with our team as medical students and, after positive experiences, have chosen to come back for the start of their career.
“Regardless of where their careers take them, they will develop strong foundations for the years ahead from the guidance of our experienced, dedicated and highly skilled team of Mackay HHS medical professionals.”
Thirty-two of the first-year doctors are from the Queensland Health program, six from the Queensland Rural Generalist Pathway and six from the Commonwealth-funded Junior Doctor Training Program.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Charles Pain said the interns will benefit from Mackay HHS’s friendly and welcoming atmosphere, it’s supportive medical culture and their broad exposure to a wide range of clinical cases.
“The interns will gain invaluable clinical experience during their first year as doctors, which will enable them to develop advanced skills as a foundation for their future medical careers,” Dr Pain said.
“Their diverse placements and experience in the MHHS will also help them make an informed choice when it comes to which speciality they wish to pursue in the future careers.
“Last year 21 interns stayed in Mackay HHS for their second year, which indicates to us how much they appreciated Mackay and valued the experience they obtained here.
“Our hope is that by providing excellent training experiences, many of our 2023 interns will also choose to build their future careers in the Mackay region.”
