Gippsland Medical School

October 2008 update from Professor Chris Browne, Head

There has been a lot of activity at the Gippsland Medical School (GMS) in the last three months, so here is a brief update of news and events from Gippsland.

Visit by the Governor
On August 14th, we had a visit to the Gippsland Medical School from the Governor of the state of Victoria, Professor David de Kretser, AC, accompanied by his wife, Mrs Jan de Kretser, together with the Mayor of Latrobe City, Mr. Bruce Lougheed and Mr. Paul Buckley, the Chief Executive Officer of Latrobe City. Professor de Krestser, as a distinguished medical scientist, was interested to meet the staff and students at the GMS and to see the new facilities. He spent some time with a group of Year A students outlining his own career and explaining the diversity of opportunities that a medical degree can facilitate.

Indigenous Week
During August, all students participated in a one-week Indigenous Health placement at Pichi Richi in the Flinders Ranges.  This placement was supported by Associate Professor Marlene Drysdale, and three academic staff of the Gippsland Medical School. The program was designed to provide participants with a unique opportunity to visit Aboriginal Health Services and communities, and to identify and focus on specific indigenous health issues in a rural and remote location.

State Parliament at Gippsland
On Wednesday 15th October, the lower house of the State Parliament of Victoria met in full session at the Gippsland campus. The Gippsland Medical School played host to a series of visitors, who toured the school facilities as a part of their visit. They included Mr Telmo Languiller, MP, member for Derrimut and Parliamentary Secretary for Human Services, Ms Helen Shardey, MP, member for Caulfield and the Shadow Minister for Health and Mr Martin Dixon, MP, member for Nepean and the Shadow Minister for Education.
On that same day, Mr Daniel Andrews, MP, Minister for Health, announced the award of $1.14 million in additional infrastructure funding to the Gippsland Medical School to assist with the development of improved clinical teaching facilities in Sale and in Bairnsdale. This additional allocation will ensure that we will be able to construct new first class teaching spaces in East Gippsland, including an improved clinical skills lab and simulation facility in Bairnsdale and a new clinical skills lab in Sale.

MMI Interviews
On September 20th and 21st, we interviewed just over 100 applicants for MBBS places with the GMS intake of 2009. More than 50 interviewers participated in the MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) process over the two days. Our administrative staff, led by Ms Judy Embleton, together with our Year A student helpers, ensured that the whole process ran smoothly. The only unforseen event was a fire alarm and evacuation, which fortunately occurred during the lunch break on the Saturday, and did not interfere with the interviews.

MBBS offers for 2009
It is with great pleasure that, on October 14th, I authorised the release of the first round offers to study MBBS in 2009 at the Gippsland Medical School. The federal government has this year increased the number of commonwealth supported MBBS places at GMS from 40 to 65. One quarter of these places are rural bonded places, consistent with government policy. We expect a very high rate of uptake of the GMS places and congratulate all of those successful applicants from the original pool of more than 500 applicants. Offers of places to international applicants go out in late October.

New staff members
Ms Barbara Dungay joined the GMS as an Assistant Lecturer in September 2008. She comes to us with a strong education and curriculum background, and is working closely with Robyn Hill on the development of curriculum materials. Ms Michelle Ryan also joined the GMS in September as the MBBS Curriculum Support Officer. Michelle’s main duties revolve around supporting the timetable, MUSO and the electronic posting of curriculum material.
Dr Partick Fiddes has been appointed as Director of Undergraduate Education for the GMS at the Frankston Hospital. He will carry the responsibility for the coordination of the Year B GMS program at Frankston which commences in 2009. Dr Fiddes will work closely with Associate Professors John Botha, the Clinical Dean at Frankston, and William Hart, who will participate in the teaching program at Frankston in 2009.
The GMS is also pleased to welcome Associate Professor Shane Bullock who joins the GMS as Theme III coordinator in November 2008. Shane is a Monash graduate who is returning to Victoria after several years at James Cook University in Townsville. His background is in Pharmacology.

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