Medical Alumni Magazine - Edition 1

Undergraduatedegrees

2012

School of Medicine and Public HealthBowman Building The University of Newcastle Callaghan NSW, 2308

P + 612 4921 7776 F + 612 4921 7788 E [email protected]

Alumni RelationsThe Chancellery The University of Newcastle Callaghan NSW, 2308


www.newcastle.edu.au

UoN

201

2/B

679

7

ContaCt US

The information in this brochure is correct as at March 2012.

AMA (NSW) Ltd Prize Gabrielle Papiex (2010)

Margaret Auchmuty Prize for Women Medical Students Lulu Ma (2010), Linda & John James Gentle

Mother & Son Prize in Paediatrics Coen Butters (2010)

The John Hamilton Prize for Indigenous Medical Students Sheree Enderby (2010)

HPMI Prize Melanie Hudson & Elizabeth McIntosh (2010)

Andrew Lawson Memorial Prize Nigel Maher (2011)

Andrew Lojszczyk Prize Phoebe Moore (2011)

Carl Mason Memorial Prize Stephen Brienesse (2011)

John McPhee Memorial Prize Jessica Gani, CassieDaros, Jessica Hayes, Helen Maccallum & Jayde Cromarty (2010)

Steele Douglas Prize in Pathology Stephen Brienesse, Kate Burston, Christina Matthews & Katherine Richards (2011)

RANZCOG Women’s Health Award Phoebe Moore (2010)

BMED PRIZES awaRDED In 2011

thE ClaSS of 2001 hElD a vERy SUCCESSfUl 10 yEaR REUnIon In novEMBER laSt yEaR at SIlo’S REStaURant nEwCaStlE.If yoUR yEaR woUlD lIkE to holD a REUnIon, thE SChool May BE aBlE to aSSISt In oRganISIng anD PRoMotIng yoUR EvEnt.

It has been a year of change, renewal and innovation for the medical program in 2011. This year was the first in 13 that Professor Michael Hensley was not at the helm leading with fairness, wisdom and loyalty and the first that Dr Malcolm Ireland has not graced the hallways sharing his good humour and sound advice. Their huge shoes awaited me, as Dean, and Dr Graeme Horton, as Program Convenor, but now a year later, I hope we have begun to make an impact in our own way in these roles.

Michael Hensley was formally farewelled at a dinner on 1 July 2011. The evening was a great event attended by many well-wishers who have been associated with the medical program either as the Newcastle Medical School or the JMP. Attendees included a number of the founding professors of the program and Mary Maddison.

One of my biggest challenges for 2011 and for the next few years is the renewal of the medical program curriculum. A great deal of useful feedback has been received from a wide range of groups and individuals to date. These insights have been debated and discussed and ultimately formed the basis of a revised curriculum which is currently being progressed by a number of smaller working parties. For the full story see page three.

The process continues in the development phase over the next few years with implementation planned for 2014. I value your continued comments in the renewal process and encourage you to visit the website for more information and to comment. www.newcastle.edu.au/jmp

The JMP continues to blossom and our relationships with the University of New England, Hunter New England Health and Central Coast Health are bonding to provide students with broader access to resources, technology and clinical experiences.

Our first cohort of JMP students will graduate at the end of 2012. These students will have spent two years rotating around clinical placements in the region. The increase in student numbers that the JMP brought has attracted funding to upgrade clinical training facilities in Newcastle, Taree, Armidale and Tamworth.

The Newcastle and Taree centres now have state of the art simulation equipment and the five JMP clinical schools are discussing ways of integrating their simulation facilities. The Taree centre has won a Master Builders Association award for its quality and design. Work is planned to begin early in 2012 for the Armidale centre which will incorporate private practice and specialist education facilities. Planning for redevelopment in Tamworth is in the early stages.

The end of the year brought the culmination of a significant project, the review of the admissions process. Applicants for 2012 have been the first to participate in the new process which combines the use of a multi-mini interview and an online test to assess personal qualities. It is anticipated these new measures will help select particular personal qualities sought of prospective medical students and provide more objective results for students. Feedback from students and interviewers has been positive.

Professor Peter McKeown began in September as the new Head of the School of Rural Medicine at UNE. He has been using UNE partnerships to develop the JMP’s links with the University of California, Irvine Medical School to access their advanced medical simulation technology and high-tech applications over the broadband network (NBN). While still in its early stages, the collaboration is allowing JMP medical students to participate in unique learning opportunities that could transform medical and health education. To learn more visit the news pages of the UNE website blog.une.edu.au

I hope you enjoy this inaugural edition of the Alumni newsletter. I would like to hear more about your achievements during the year as well as continue to share the successes and progress of the School of Medicine and Public Health with you. Please utilise the links on the University Alumni pages to keep in touch.

I wish you a challenging but rewarding year in 2012.

Ian SymondsDean of Medicine – JMP Head of School of Medicine and Public Health

Cover photo by Joel Kinneally. The views expressed in the Medical Alumni Magazine are not necessarily reflective of the views or policies of the School of Medicine and Public Health at the University of Newcastle.

DEan’S MESSagE

I am sure that everyone looks back to their University days with fond memories – and I imagine that most of these memories are of times out of musty lecture theatres or intoxicating anatomy labs. The University of Newcastle Medical Society (UNMS) continues to encourage students to participate in extracurricular activities – whether it be debating against clinicians (The Great Debate), playing rugby or soccer against other faculties or trying out a few new dance moves at First Incision (Cocktail Party), and also continues to represent student concerns to the School of Medicine and Public Health and the JMP.

2011 has been an extremely successful year. Michael Meagher, our Charity Officer helped UNMS start a new relationship with ‘Leapfrog Abilty: Fair Go for Kids’, a charity which funds treatment for disabled children. Over $7000 was raised through events such as Trivia Night, City-to-Surf and Charity Party, along with donations and profits from Charity Week.

Socially, many enjoyable events were held – ranging from an orientation camp for Year One students, ‘Specialty Night’ where students were able to gain insight into the lives of specialists and Teddy Bear Hospital, where Year 3 students (or Teddy-doctors) patched up teddy-bears for children in Civic Park Newcastle,

Externally, UNMS attended AMSA Council and discussed key issues that are affecting medical students around the country, such as the lack of internship positions for international students, and the introduction of ‘MD’ medical degrees in Victoria that circumvent the ban on full-fee paying places – resulting in medical students that may graduate with $150,000 of debt.

Yet, most importantly, the UNMS were afforded the opportunity to participate in the curriculum review of the medical program. A UNMS survey was sent out to all students. Steven Hurwitz, along with Georgia Carroll, compiled these results and presented a report to the Steering Committee in October. Medical students have a vested interest in ensuring that their medical courses are of an extremely high standard, and we are extremely grateful for the high regard with which the Faculty, particularly our new Dean, Professor Symonds, has encouraged and welcomed student ideas and contributions.

For my part, it has been an extraordinary opportunity to see the amount of time and effort that goes in behind the scenes to ensure the BMed program runs smoothly.

The UNMS is always looking for graduates to participate in our events – either through speaking to students about what lies ahead, or simply arguing with them at our annual debate. Please feel free to contact UNMS at either: [email protected] or [email protected].

Jonathan O’Donnell President UNMS 2011

www.newcastle.edu.au | 01

Leading research is delivering a better response to depression when it is needed most.

Professor Brian Kelly (BMed 1983) believes mental illness is not the sole domain of psychiatrists and psychologists but the responsibility of many in the health system.

“Some of the most critical moments for improving the wellbeing of people who need mental health care occur in their day-to-day contact with frontline health professionals,” the University of Newcastle Professor of Psychiatry says.

“As mental health experts we need to be working more closely with those people to help them be confident and capable in responding to those day-to-day needs.”

Empowering people to respond appropriately when they sense that a patient is in emotional distress is a common thread in Kelly’s research. As a practising clinician and program convenor in the University’s Priority Research Centre (PRC) for Brain and Mental Health Research, he has a keen interest in seeing research translated into clinical practice.

An internationally-respected mental health authority who is consistently one of the University’s highest recipients of external research grants, Kelly has held a career-long interest in the psychosocial aspects of palliative care, particularly within an oncology setting.

He says it is often nurses and allied health-care providers in regular contact with patients who are in the best position initially to detect when a patient needs help.

Kelly advocates that mental health should be monitored as a ‘vital sign’ in people with cancer and other serious illnesses, assessed in the same way as a patient’s physical symptoms such as pain, pulse and blood pressure.

Frontline mental health care

“This focus is rooted in very interesting and rewarding training I had as an undergraduate medical student at Newcastle,” Kelly explains.

“It was a strong philosophy of the medical school here that the behavioural, psychological, social and physical aspects of a patient’s condition were all linked and this thinking has flowed on to my clinical and research work today.

“It is a common misconception that when someone is suffering from depression and also has a severe illness, like advanced cancer, their mental health is beyond help.

“In fact, when people do receive this assistance they are often able to maintain a remarkable level of confidence and optimism, and are better equipped to deal with their illness.”

Kelly is collaborating with researchers in four other centres in Brisbane and Melbourne on the PROMPT study (Promoting Optimal Outcomes in Mood through Tailored Psychosocial Therapies). It provides training and mentorship to frontline health professionals, such as oncology nurses, to help them to confidently address common mental health problems among their patients.

“The challenge is to get these things into everyday practice and to see them embedded in people’s work,” Kelly says.

The project has parallels with research that Kelly completed as a former director of the University’s Centre for Rural and Remote Health in Orange, where he received significant NSW government funding develop a state-wide policy for emergency mental health care in rural areas. There, Kelly worked not only with frontline health workers such as GPs but other community members who could be the first point of contact for people with depression.

“In many of those rural and farming communities the person they are most likely to speak to is not a health professional but the local stock and station agent or the bank manager, so we held forums where we got these people together and provided them with first aid training for mental health,” he says.

Kelly was hailed for the contributions he and his team made to government rural health policy and he continues to work in the field. He is currently a lead investigator on a five-year follow-up of the Australian Rural Mental Health Study, funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council.

“What I enjoy about my work in the PRC is that we have a tremendous team, with some very accomplished clinicians and researchers working across a broad range of fields,” he says.

“As well as in my own fields, we have achieved international acknowledgement in areas such as schizophrenia and drug and alcohol research. There is a genuine collegial atmosphere and willingness to work together that makes this centre quite unique.”

Professor Brian Kelly researches in collaboration with the Hunter Medical Research Institute’s (HMRI) Brain and Mental Health Program. HMRI is a partnership between the University of Newcastle, Hunter New England Local Health District and the community.

02 | www.newcastle.edu.au

In 2008 the JMP became the first Australian medical program to be run by two universities setting the precedent of expansion of medical education by partnership with an established medical program rather than incurring the cost and complexity of creating a new one.

There is a great deal that is still relevant in the principles laid out by the program’s founders and much has been achieved in the last four years. However, there are always aspects of the program that can be improved especially in these times of great change in medical education in Australia and internationally.

The first steps in the renewal process were taken at a Steering Group meeting in May and resulted in the preparation of a discussion paper proposing a new curriculum.

“The school wanted an informed and grounded approach to the renewal process and placed great importance on the contributions of staff, conjoints, alumni, students and community members,” said Professor Ian Symonds, Dean of Medicine – JMP.

A great deal of useful feedback has been received from a wide range of groups and individuals through forums and focus groups held during the consultation phase.

“Feedback indicates that people want a strengthened community, rural and regional focus and there has been vigorous debate about the future of problem based learning.

For the past 50 years or so in English-speaking developed countries such as the USA, Britain and Australia, choosing a planned homebirth has been seen by the general public as ‘risky’, and this picture has generally been reinforced by doctors and cultural stereotypes. A recent study in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) has shown homebirth has a slightly higher risk (1.7%) to the baby in first time mothers, but in a second birth there was no difference in risk in different birthing locations. The report showed that for women with healthy pregnancies and who began labour with no known risk factors, birth is very safe wherever it happens. Interestingly the emergency caesarian rate for homebirths was just 2.8% compared with 11% in doctor-led units and 4.4% in midwife-led units.

This is quite a factual summary, but how to birth and where to birth can be a very emotionally intense decision. I chose to homebirth my daughter firstly because I could. I was a heathy 28-year old with a low risk pregnancy and I had access to an experienced team of independent midwives. My second reason for choosing to birth at home was that it was a much nicer environment in which to do it. We had a birthing pool set up in the living room and a support crew comprising my husband, sister and a good friend. There was music, dim lighting and a lot of laughter. Afterwards I had a shower and the three of us climbed into bed to sleep. No drama, no drugs and no separation.

“The areas which generated most discussion were the program length and the role of research in the new curriculum.

“Also widely debated was the proposal to introduce full year courses and the need to provide more frequent formative assessment and opportunities for remediation.”

A revised JMP mission and graduate profile were also developed in response to the feedback received.

The issues of resources (particularly staffing) and teaching quality were consistent themes. A greater focus on e-learning was unanimously endorsed, but the problem of resourcing this was raised.

In response to this feedback, a revised curriculum was proposed. The general direction of the curriculum renewal process and the revised curriculum framework was given wide support at a public retreat.

The group agreed to a process involving the formation of a number of working parties which would develop aspects of the curriculum with continued reporting, debate and discussion.

The process continues with the development phase with implementation planned for 2014. The school values your continued comments in the renewal process and encourage you to visit the JMP website for more information and to comment. www.newcastle.edu.au/jmp

This has largely been the homebirth experience of many of the people I have spoken to. After attending the Homebirth Australia conference in August, many people spoke about their decision to homebirth subsequent babies after traumatic and disempowering first births in hospital. Being told that the midwife is going off shift in an hour and there had better be some progress or else there would be an intervention was not uncommon. Babies aren’t born on a schedule and no two labours are the same. A friend gave birth to three daughters at home with the first one taking over 20 hours, the second only four hours and the third a mere 45 minutes from start to finish! Who are we, as doctors, to say that someone is ‘failing to progress’ if they don’t dilate according to the schedule?

Being a medical student present at a birth can sometimes be a dilemma as we need to learn but we also need to respect the parents’ wishes and their need for privacy. In fourth year we are unlikely to get to witness a homebirth, but there are many videos on you tube. Watch these and think about what you are observing in hospital. What could we do differently? My advice for students at a birth is to be as unobtrusive as possible, be helpful but quiet, and watch an amazing process unfold before you.

Anna Keedwell Year 3 Student, 2011

curriculum renewal one step at a time

where to birthBirthplace in England Collaborative Group (2011). “Perinatal and maternal outcomes by planned place of birth for healthy women with low risk pregnancies: the Birthplace in England national prospective cohort study.” BMJ 343(d7400).

Newman, L. “Why planned attended homebirth should be more widely supported in Australia.” Retrieved 16 December, 2011, from http://www.homebirthaustralia.org/why-planned-attended-homebirth-should-be-more-widely-supported-australia.


With chronic GP shortages in rural and remote Australia, the dedication of 2004 University of Newcastle Bachelor of Medicine graduate Sarah McEwan (nee Gibbons) (BMed 2005) in providing healthcare for such regions is both admirable and crucial. It is this dedication which last year saw her presented with the prestigious Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) 2010 Rural Registrar of the Year Award.

oF rural meDicine

the

chanGinG Face

The award from ACRRM last year was recognition of her continued work in rural and remote healthcare. It was also an acknowledgement of Sarah’s passionate advocacy for the communities in which she has worked.

Sarah cites her Aboriginal heritage as being an advantage for what she seeks to achieve in her chosen profession.

“It helps me to be able to more effectively advocate on the patient’s behalf and to educate others in our field about the realities of being an Aboriginal person. I also find that I have an advantage in being able to challenge people’s attitudes and beliefs about Aboriginal culture, and possibly even be able to alter their opinions in a small way which may, in effect, improve their overall practice when dealing with Aboriginal patients.”

It’s hard to go past Sarah’s passion for her profession. She says that she is energised by the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives on a daily basis. She confers similar enthusiasm to the University of Newcastle.

“I often encourage others who are considering a career in medicine not to look further than Newcastle for its exceptional reputation and excellent clinicians that it produces.”

You need look no further than Dr Sarah McEwan for proof of that.

Article and image has been drawn from the University’s Alumni Magazine (Edition 1, 2011).

A Wiradjuri woman, Sarah grew up in Mudgee, New South Wales. It was this country upbringing which instilled in Sarah both a passion and understanding for the medical needs of people in remote areas. In particular, the needs of women and Indigenous communities.

One of Sarah’s earliest formative medical experiences came in the shape of the Mudgee husband and wife GP team. They had delivered her as a newborn and tended to her healthcare needs and that of her seven siblings throughout her childhood. She also cites her father’s role as a St John’s Ambulance Service volunteer as having a profound impact on her as a child, awakening a fascination for the world of medicine.

As a shy 17 year old Sarah met some Indigenous university graduates who inspired her to take on the challenge of tertiary education. She was the recipient of a special entry as an Indigenous student in 2000.

“I had the choice between the University of New South Wales and the University of Newcastle. Newcastle won out as it had a great reputation for support to Aboriginal students. Newcastle’s Aboriginal community (the Awabakal people) were very accepting and welcoming of new students to the area. I found that a lot of my strength came from local elders in the community who were super proud of us striving ahead to pursue a career in medicine.”

While completing her degree Sarah became interested in the field of obstetrics, an interest which has ultimately led her to her current role as District Medical Officer in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and Emergency at Port Hedland Hospital Western Australia, via placements in other regional areas including Tamworth, Tweed Heads and Murwillumbah.


placement postcarDs

Taree – Manning Rural Referral Hospital

While Taree lacks the glamour and excitement of some other Health Equity Selective (HES) locations, the very busy Manning hospital emergency department was a fantastic place to meet and talk with patients about their health care.

More importantly, I could follow patients though their hospital admissions, from their time on the wards to community outreach follow-up. I chose to focus on acute stroke care and the inequitable access to stroke services (especially thrombolysis and specialist neurological assessment) at the hospital, compared not only to major metropolitan hospitals such as JHH, but also to other rural hospitals which offered these services.

I was able to have some real hands on clinical ex perience, from extensive cannulation practice to urinary catheter insertion to emergency intubation and even assisting in theatre. The options available at MRRH are extensive (pathology, radiology, mental health, obstetrics, paediatrics, ED, surgery, Aboriginal health, ambulance service, community health) and staff in all departments are extremely happy to teach students.

Keelan Sheridan Year 3 Student

Northern Malawi – Embangweni Hospital

Embangweni’s a small hospital facing some big challenges: malaria, TB, HIV and a chronic lack of fuel, power and gloves. It’s incredible how much you can learn about medicine from dedicated staff in a resource-poor setting. I spent far more hours there than were required because I was getting so much out of the experience. I visited surrounding villages for ante-natal clinics, and was able to see a bit of life in rural Malawi (and enjoy the local staple, nsima, which appears with every meal and which is not dissimilar to Clag). Oh and if you’re in theatre after hours, you get a free Fanta.

Of course it was hard going. We lost a baby or a mother most days, usually because resources that are abundant in Australia just weren’t available, and I just don’t know what to say about that. I didn’t get a lot of sleep, but the experience was one of the most valuable of my life so far, both personally and professionally, and I hope to return to Embangweni.

Kathryn Kerr Year 3 Student

Kpando, Ghana – Margret Marquart Catholic Hospital

The placement was the most incredible experience I could have asked for. I had the opportunity to stay with a local family – in my case, a small family of four whose household grew 12 months ago when they took in 12 orphans. Eating, playing, relaxing with the family made me feel like I got a good feel for Ghanaian life (including getting damn good at the ol’ ‘fetch the water from the well’ trick).

A 200 bed hospital seen to by only three doctors, a lack of hand sanitiser in the medical ward, typhoid patients sharing bedpans with post-op patients, it was like a different world of medicine. Major cultural differences challenged me and the poor level of education and continuing care for HIV patients was astonishing.

Like any placement, things got slow on certain days, but my supervising doctor was pretty well attuned to me, and would order me to buy some chocolate if my eyes glazed over. Legendary.

Michael Meagher Year 3 Student


For the one in three Australians who suffer from them, chronic stomach and bowel disorders are a source of great pain and frustration. For Professor Nick Talley, they are a scientific conundrum that he has devoted a large part of his esteemed medical career to researching and treating.

The University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Faculty of Health is a neurogastroenterologist, a specialist in unexplained gut disorders affecting nerves and muscles such as irritable bowel syndrome, functional dyspepsia (a form of severe indigestion) and slow stomach emptying (also called gastroparesis). These conditions, called functional gastrointestinal disorders, together affect millions of people but little is understood of their causes.

“There are many different disorders where the gut fails to work properly. At their most severe they seriously affect a patient’s health and quality of life,” Talley says.

“In the past these conditions were poorly diagnosed, poorly recognised and therefore poorly managed. Over the past 25 years I have worked very hard, with collaborators all over the world, to help classify these diseases more effectively so that we can better manage them.

“What that work has done has confirmed that these are real disorders, that they can be identified biologically – and that is a major advance. We have proven they are not just conditions that are imagined or purely psychologically driven.”

Gut instinctProfessor Nick Talley has made great inroads into the understanding of common, but often mystifying, gastrointestinal ailments.

A former Professor of Medicine and medical department Chair at the prestigious Mayo Clinic in the United States, Talley came to the University of Newcastle in 2010 with impeccable credentials as a researcher, teacher, administrator and clinician.

Talley is one of the most highly cited researchers in his field and, working with his teams of collaborators in Australia and internationally, has been credited with significant advances in our understanding of the underlying causes of functional gastrointestinal diseases.

His self-confessed “career of reinvention” has encompassed two periods at Mayo, both in research and administration, interspersed with a nine-year period as Foundation Professor of Medicine at the University of Sydney’s Nepean-based medical school.

He holds adjunct research appointments with Mayo, the University of North Carolina and Sweden’s Karolinska Institute He is an author of several major medical textbooks and has published more than 700 articles in peer-reviewed journals.

Talley says his team’s work in verifying the presence of eosinophils (inflammatory white blood cells) in the small intestine in functional dyspepsia is a critical breakthrough because it offers new treatment options that could ultimately lead to a cure.

“One of the things we’ve been able to ascertain is that there is inflammation in the gut that appears to be an important driver, a fact that is now becoming well accepted but certainly was not when we started this work,” he says.

Talley has maintained his commitment to clinical work throughout his academic career and is a Visiting Medical Officer at Newcastle’s John Hunter Hospital.

He is an advocate for introducing all students to research early, starting from undergraduate level, because he believes it enhances their proficiency regardless of which career path they choose. In his new role, he is keen to promote research training for practitioners, too, so they have the opportunity to directly translate research into practice.

“Research builds new knowledge that when well done is robust and can make a real difference in patient lives,” he says. “Apart from that, research is fun. It is also fascinating and challenging and, when tied in with clinical practice, it becomes highly relevant to what you are doing every day.”

To that end, Talley has practised what he preaches. In 2001, when he was offered the chance to return to Mayo to research genetic aspects of functional gastrointestinal disorders, he enrolled in a Masters degree course in genetic epidemiology through Newcastle’s GradSchool.com to upgrade his skills.

As to why he chose Newcastle and a Chair in Health for the latest phase of his career reinvention, Talley is unequivocal.

“I see enormous potential here,” he says “and I want to contribute.

“Newcastle has a tremendous cadre of researchers and educationalists, and many health research programs that are world-standard. The national and international rankings of the Faculty of Health are excellent, but I think we can do even better.

“It is a great place to be for my career, but it is also a nice place to live for my family and I, so that is a perfect combination.”


As an idealistic school leaver, I originally began medicine to ‘help people’, although admittedly I had little idea about what that meant. I never imagined spending a career in research. I wanted a career where I could talk to people and be a part of a community much rather than be stuck in a lab.

Three years of Medicine have taught me a lot, and helped to remove my rose-coloured glasses. GP placements have made me realise that there are reams of paperwork and office bureaucracy to contend with, and as well as talking to patients all day. I realised how naïve I had been about my career choice. This made me apprehensive about spending the next 40 years in a single career path.

I started to feel quite young and lost in the scheme of things, and began to seriously question whether medicine was for me. At around the same time, the Bachelor of Medical Science was being discussed. Unlike most other students, the BMedSci did not appeal to me

Dr Kelly Stanton was inspired to pursue a career in Cardiology by Cardiologist and Clinical Skills Tutor, Dr Malcolm Barlow, during Year 1 of her BMed at the University of Newcastle. This enthusiasm continues to propel Dr Kelly Stanton to achieve.

acaDemic satisFaction anD a reneweD passion

a heart set on carDioloGy

Graduating the BMed in 2007 with distinction including being awarded the Wiley Blackwell publishing prize for the highest overall ability and capacity in written examinations, Kelly has now been awarded the Bryan Hudson Medal for achieving the highest overall performance in the Royal Australian College of Physicians written and clinical exams for adult medicine in 2011.

While Kelly said she had worked hard for the exams, she credited the “phenomenal training program at the Royal Prince Alfred (RPA) Hospital” as a contributor to her success.

“The Basic Physician Training Program at RPA in Sydney is highly regarded and everyone in the program has high aspirations. It’s a fantastic environment to learn and work in,” said Kelly.

Kelly has been progressing through her post graduate training and this year has begun her Cardiology Advanced Training at RPA. The technical side of cardiology will fill the next three years and will conclude her specialist training.

Kelly has recently completed a three month general medicine rural rotation in Alice Springs and she is appreciating the facilities and resources available at RPA even more.

“I found the challenges of health care in Alice Springs to be more social than clinical.”

“It is a challenging environment to work in due to many of the patients coming from very remote areas of central Australia with limited access to health care. English is often not the first language spoken by many indigenous patients and many cultural differences exist, including the practice of bush medicine, which can make it challenging to provide effective health care to indigenous patients.”

“It’s great to see the medical program at Newcastle is continuing to train indigenous doctors and is putting resources into educating medical students in indigenous health,” she said.

While she has enjoyed the rotation in Alice Springs, Kelly is aiming for a city based career combining a professorship with her clinical work.

There is such a need for clinical educators in medicine and I think the mix of working with patients as well as teaching would be something I would enjoy.

Kelly will be presented with the Bryan Hudson Medal at the Royal Australasian College of Physicians Annual congress in Brisbane in May. She values her association with the University of Newcastle and will wear the Newcastle academic gown on the day.

Congratulations on your award, Kelly.

because of the research aspect initially. I chose take to this year because it would allow me to re-evaluate my passion for medicine, and give me a taste of what biomedical research is about. In my opinion the BMedSci couldn’t hurt my future outlook. At best it may ignite a passion for research and at worst I would be a year behind in my studies, but would still have gained unique experience and a degree to boot.

Once I had decided to undertake the BMedSci, I had to find a project and a supervisor. I had no preference of project, although a neurological or immunological focus interested me the most from the exposure I had from my studies. Eventually it was settled that I would work in the Spratt Laboratory, looking at the fluid compartments in the brain after ischaemic stroke.

To say that this year has been fulfilling would be an understatement. My time in the lab has exposed me to a whole new side of medicine that is not highlighted otherwise. I was able

to refresh and build upon skills particularly reviewing journal articles, critical thinking and writing. I had the opportunity to attend conferences, which I would not have otherwise been able to do. I have also gained academic satisfaction, by having the opportunity to fully research and understand a topic of my choice.

My project afforded me to have an academically exciting and challenging year, with my project linking our human data to research already conducted in rats, and opening new possibilities in the pathophysiology of ischaemic stroke. It also allowed me to investigate a career path in medicine I had not previously considered. Finally, it also gave me a year to find my passion for medicine again, and I look forward to my clinical year at Manning Base Hospital in 2012.

Ariana Arulampalam BMed Sci Student 2011


In a current large randomised controlled trial we are testing a treatment for diabetes that has some very attractive side effects. As well as a profound effect on type II diabetes this treatment has a beneficial effect on depression, cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis, and prevents age related cognitive decline as well as several kinds of cancer. It is not covered by any patents and is relatively inexpensive. This wonder treatment is of course increased physical activity, and while the benefits are clear the way to administer it to patients needs further development. Along with my colleagues Erica James, Natalie Johnson and Ron Plotnikoff I am currently recruiting patients to the NewCoach trial testing the effectiveness of referring patients from general practice to an exercise physiologist for coaching to increase their activity levels. We currently have 20 general practices participating and will be recruiting 20 more in early 2012 and have a planned sample size of 1200 participants to be recruited over 18 months.

Much research in this domain has been limited by the use of self report measures for physical activity. These have only limited validity as participants can’t reliably judge the intensity of activity, and cant recall the duration, so we are using a pedometer to record step counts as the outcome measure at the end of the three month coaching period and again at the 12 month mark. The cost of our intervention, five consultations with an exercise physiologist, is about the same as any one blood pressure drug for a year, but if the increase in physical activity is long lasting it would have lifelong benefits. This may be one of the most cost effective health interventions available.

Lack of physical activity is a significant risk to health, like smoking and poor diet, but unlike these other risk factors the prevalence of inadequate physical activity is high even in people who are otherwise health conscious. The NSW health survey shows that on self report about 51% of adults had ‘sufficient’ physical activity in 2005, however the validity of the self report is highly doubtful. A similar health survey in the US showing about 50% achieving sufficient activity used accelerometers for an objective measure, and the proportion actually achieving 30 minutes on five days a week of moderate to vigorous activity was only 5%.

Physical activity has mostly been engineered out of the modern world in which people work sitting at desks, travel sitting in cars, and for recreation either sit and talk or sit in front of screens. This should be compared to the hunter gatherer environment that shaped human physiology and anatomy during evolution. Every day a person had to find that day’s food, which involved walking long distances as well as sometimes running, climbing or digging for your lunch.

One of the most obvious ways to incorporate physical activity into today’s urban life is through active transport. Many regular trips can be completed by walking or cycling, but the environment has to be safe for this to be an attractive travel option.

I have been a member of Newcastle City Council’s cycling strategy working party as a representative of Newcastle Cycleways Movement. One of the developments in 2011 was to identify and signpost the best cycle route from the University to the CBD, known as route 6, which goes via Waratah station and back streets in Mayfield, then via the Islington TAFE and along the Throsby Creek path. This is the first cycle route in Newcastle to be identified with signage showing destinations and distance. It is mostly a safe and pleasant trip, except for two difficult road crossings which we are hopeful the RTA will soon take action to improve. In the longer term we are working on a proposal for a fully separated East-West CBD cycleway from the showground to Newcastle East, similar in design to the protected cycleways being built in central Sydney.

We need to see that physical activity in everyday life is not a chore to be removed, but a precious resource not to be wasted.

Dr Ben Ewald (BMed 1983) Senior Lecturer School of Medicine and Public Health University of Newcastle


No-one is more surprised than Karen Hitchcock (BMed 2003) about how her life has turned out.

In the not-too-distant past she was studying English literature at La Trobe University “one subject a semester, nothing too taxing” and working in a TAB to support herself. “I never handed in an essay that I didn’t have five extensions for,” she says, only half-jokingly. “Then I decided to get serious after feeling directionless.”

Fast forward 12 years and the wiry, quietly-spoken doctor is finishing her physician training at the John Hunter Hospital, has completed a PhD in English (creative writing) at the University of Newcastle, is married, and a mother to twin girls Ida and Yve.

Last, but definitely not least, Hitchcock is the author of a critically and commercially successful collection of short stories. Publisher Picador was so impressed with her manuscript for Little White Slips that they offered her a two-book deal, which is almost unheard of for a first-time author.

Little White Slips has subsequently won the Arts Queensland Steele Rudd Award and was short-listed in April 2010 for both the New South Wales Premier’s Literary Award for New Writing and the Dobbie Encouragement Award.

Hitchcock is now immersed in writing her debut novel and there is every possibility it will also be published in the United Kingdom. “I can’t believe it,” she says, sincerely astounded at the unexpected twists and turns that have led her to this point. “I have moments where I’ll be thinking about my childhood in the paddocks of Deer Park (in western Melbourne) and then I’ll realise, oh my god, I’m a doctor, a mother, a writer.

“I’ve been really, really lucky.”

Hitchcock moved to Newcastle in 1998 to study medicine, her bag packed with “Melbourne garb made of black wool” and has thrived on combining her medical and writing careers; each passion informing the other.

mother, Doctor, writer – in any orDer

“As a physician it’s your job to listen to people’s stories,” she says. “That’s what I like so much about internal medicine.”

Medicine has a strong influence on the settings and themes of her fiction. In the opening story in her collection, Drinking When We Are Not Thirsty, the protagonist Jessica is studying for her specialist physician exams and is on the verge of a stress-induced implosion.

Her husband and child are neglected as she becomes obsessed with the idea of escaping into the arms of an Irish registrar. While the dalliance is fiction, Hitchcock drew on her own experience to convey the intense anxiety that consumes many doctors in training.

“The year I sat my physician’s exam was hideous for my family,” she recalls. “I knew it was going to be hell. I did nothing but study. I couldn’t fail because I couldn’t put them through it again.

“Just after I finished the clinical exam, one of my girls – they were two at the time – said to me, ‘Mummy, you don’t play’, and I thought, thank god she said it now when I’m almost finished and can start playing. It would have been terrible to hear that if I was only halfway through.”

Hitchcock credits the University with giving her the opportunity to pursue both medicine and writing. In 2002 while in the fifth year of her medical degree, instead of travelling to developing countries for a three-month elective like many of her fellow students, Hitchcock joined the creative writing course in the School of Humanities and Social Science.

Helen Garner, who is now a friend and part-time neighbour, was then writer-inresidence and guided Hitchcock.

“I completed my first real story, which had a beginning, middle and end, and read it to the class and everyone laughed and loved it,” Hitchcock recalls. “It was the moment for me. I’d never been so happy in my life.”

What do Ida and Yve make of her dual careers? “If you ask what I do, they say, ‘Mummy is a doctor and an author’. They understand that each is just as important.”

It has been a year of change, renewal and innovation for the medical program in 2011. This year was the first in 13 that Professor Michael Hensley was not at the helm leading with fairness, wisdom and loyalty and the first that Dr Malcolm Ireland has not graced the hallways sharing his good humour and sound advice. Their huge shoes awaited me, as Dean, and Dr Graeme Horton, as Program Convenor, but now a year later, I hope we have begun to make an impact in our own way in these roles.

Michael Hensley was formally farewelled at a dinner on 1 July 2011. The evening was a great event attended by many well-wishers who have been associated with the medical program either as the Newcastle Medical School or the JMP. Attendees included a number of the founding professors of the program and Mary Maddison.

One of my biggest challenges for 2011 and for the next few years is the renewal of the medical program curriculum. A great deal of useful feedback has been received from a wide range of groups and individuals to date. These insights have been debated and discussed and ultimately formed the basis of a revised curriculum which is currently being progressed by a number of smaller working parties. For the full story see page three.

The process continues in the development phase over the next few years with implementation planned for 2014. I value your continued comments in the renewal process and encourage you to visit the website for more information and to comment. www.newcastle.edu.au/jmp

The JMP continues to blossom and our relationships with the University of New England, Hunter New England Health and Central Coast Health are bonding to provide students with broader access to resources, technology and clinical experiences.

Our first cohort of JMP students will graduate at the end of 2012. These students will have spent two years rotating around clinical placements in the region. The increase in student numbers that the JMP brought has attracted funding to upgrade clinical training facilities in Newcastle, Taree, Armidale and Tamworth.

The Newcastle and Taree centres now have state of the art simulation equipment and the five JMP clinical schools are discussing ways of integrating their simulation facilities. The Taree centre has won a Master Builders Association award for its quality and design. Work is planned to begin early in 2012 for the Armidale centre which will incorporate private practice and specialist education facilities. Planning for redevelopment in Tamworth is in the early stages.

The end of the year brought the culmination of a significant project, the review of the admissions process. Applicants for 2012 have been the first to participate in the new process which combines the use of a multi-mini interview and an online test to assess personal qualities. It is anticipated these new measures will help select particular personal qualities sought of prospective medical students and provide more objective results for students. Feedback from students and interviewers has been positive.

Professor Peter McKeown began in September as the new Head of the School of Rural Medicine at UNE. He has been using UNE partnerships to develop the JMP’s links with the University of California, Irvine Medical School to access their advanced medical simulation technology and high-tech applications over the broadband network (NBN). While still in its early stages, the collaboration is allowing JMP medical students to participate in unique learning opportunities that could transform medical and health education. To learn more visit the news pages of the UNE website blog.une.edu.au

I hope you enjoy this inaugural edition of the Alumni newsletter. I would like to hear more about your achievements during the year as well as continue to share the successes and progress of the School of Medicine and Public Health with you. Please utilise the links on the University Alumni pages to keep in touch.

I wish you a challenging but rewarding year in 2012.

Ian SymondsDean of Medicine – JMP Head of School of Medicine and Public Health

Cover photo by Joel Kinneally. The views expressed in the Medical Alumni Magazine are not necessarily reflective of the views or policies of the School of Medicine and Public Health at the University of Newcastle.

DEan’S MESSagE

I am sure that everyone looks back to their University days with fond memories – and I imagine that most of these memories are of times out of musty lecture theatres or intoxicating anatomy labs. The University of Newcastle Medical Society (UNMS) continues to encourage students to participate in extracurricular activities – whether it be debating against clinicians (The Great Debate), playing rugby or soccer against other faculties or trying out a few new dance moves at First Incision (Cocktail Party), and also continues to represent student concerns to the School of Medicine and Public Health and the JMP.

2011 has been an extremely successful year. Michael Meagher, our Charity Officer helped UNMS start a new relationship with ‘Leapfrog Abilty: Fair Go for Kids’, a charity which funds treatment for disabled children. Over $7000 was raised through events such as Trivia Night, City-to-Surf and Charity Party, along with donations and profits from Charity Week.

Socially, many enjoyable events were held – ranging from an orientation camp for Year One students, ‘Specialty Night’ where students were able to gain insight into the lives of specialists and Teddy Bear Hospital, where Year 3 students (or Teddy-doctors) patched up teddy-bears for children in Civic Park Newcastle,

Externally, UNMS attended AMSA Council and discussed key issues that are affecting medical students around the country, such as the lack of internship positions for international students, and the introduction of ‘MD’ medical degrees in Victoria that circumvent the ban on full-fee paying places – resulting in medical students that may graduate with $150,000 of debt.

Yet, most importantly, the UNMS were afforded the opportunity to participate in the curriculum review of the medical program. A UNMS survey was sent out to all students. Steven Hurwitz, along with Georgia Carroll, compiled these results and presented a report to the Steering Committee in October. Medical students have a vested interest in ensuring that their medical courses are of an extremely high standard, and we are extremely grateful for the high regard with which the Faculty, particularly our new Dean, Professor Symonds, has encouraged and welcomed student ideas and contributions.

For my part, it has been an extraordinary opportunity to see the amount of time and effort that goes in behind the scenes to ensure the BMed program runs smoothly.

The UNMS is always looking for graduates to participate in our events – either through speaking to students about what lies ahead, or simply arguing with them at our annual debate. Please feel free to contact UNMS at either: [email protected] or [email protected].

Jonathan O’Donnell President UNMS 2011

Undergraduatedegrees

2012

School of Medicine and Public HealthBowman Building The University of Newcastle Callaghan NSW, 2308


Alumni RelationsThe Chancellery The University of Newcastle Callaghan NSW, 2308


www.newcastle.edu.au

UoN

201

2/B

679

7

ContaCt US

The information in this brochure is correct as at March 2012.

AMA (NSW) Ltd Prize Gabrielle Papiex (2010)

Margaret Auchmuty Prize for Women Medical Students Lulu Ma (2010), Linda & John James Gentle

Mother & Son Prize in Paediatrics Coen Butters (2010)

The John Hamilton Prize for Indigenous Medical Students Sheree Enderby (2010)

HPMI Prize Melanie Hudson & Elizabeth McIntosh (2010)

Andrew Lawson Memorial Prize Nigel Maher (2011)

Andrew Lojszczyk Prize Phoebe Moore (2011)

Carl Mason Memorial Prize Stephen Brienesse (2011)

John McPhee Memorial Prize Jessica Gani, CassieDaros, Jessica Hayes, Helen Maccallum & Jayde Cromarty (2010)

Steele Douglas Prize in Pathology Stephen Brienesse, Kate Burston, Christina Matthews & Katherine Richards (2011)

RANZCOG Women’s Health Award Phoebe Moore (2010)

BMED PRIZES awaRDED In 2011

thE ClaSS of 2001 hElD a vERy SUCCESSfUl 10 yEaR REUnIon In novEMBER laSt yEaR at SIlo’S REStaURant nEwCaStlE.If yoUR yEaR woUlD lIkE to holD a REUnIon, thE SChool May BE aBlE to aSSISt In oRganISIng anD PRoMotIng yoUR EvEnt.

Documents

Medical Alumni Magazine - Edition 1