Raj Vaidya did not need to look far for inspiration on what medical pathway to pursue. The JCU final year medical student wants to follow in the footsteps of his father Dr Shanti Vaidya, who is a senior interventional cardiologist in Mackay, working at both the Mackay Base and Mater Hospitals. “My father is extremely… [Read More]

Mackay Base Hospital is anticipating the return of obstetrics and gynaecology specialist trainees in 2024. The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) has advised the health service that trainees in their third or fourth year of Basic training are now going to be able to rotate through Mackay Base Hospital…. [Read More]

When Dionne Penny attended our Mackay Hospital and Health Service awards event recently to receive her 25-year service badge, she was not expecting any other accolades. However Mackay mum Amy Forrester wanted to see the nurse her family has come to rely on get the recognition she deserves. She nominated Dionne, a clinical nurse who… [Read More]

Graham Pasternak first scrubbed up to assist during surgery at the tender age of nine. His father, a doctor, had decided to spend six months working on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu. “My parents are usually quite conservative, in terms of risk-taking, but they decided last minute – ‘let’s go to Vanuatu for six… [Read More]

Originally from Wales, Simon’s current role is nurse unit manager for our Medical G2 ward but he recently took up the opportunity to spend three months working on Mornington Island in the Gulf of Carpentaria. After years of COVID, border closures and a global staffing crisis he was ready for a change of scenery. “Those years… [Read More]