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Five of The Gippsland Medical School’s Year A students have been awarded John Flynn Scholarships.  The John Flynn Scholarship Scheme was established in 1997 and is an integral part of the Australian government’s long-term strategy to attract more rural doctors and improve the quality of health care in rural areas.  Working closely with a rural doctor mentor and the host community, medical students develop a better understanding of the challenges and rewards associated with rural medical practice and non-metropolitan health care services.  Congratulations to Justin de Bono, Michelle Dunn, Brendan Maher, Astrid Richards and Laura Selkrig.

Brendan Maher	Astrid Richards	Joshua de Bono	Michelle Dunn	Laura Selkrig

On Thursday, 9th July, 2009, Certificates of Appreciation were awarded to sixty-one residents from Latrobe Valley Homes and Grace Bruce Homes for their involvement in the education of the students of the Gippsland Medical School. Management from the two homes accepted wall plaques from Monash University to acknowledge their supporting role in the Volunteer Interview Program.

During the past six months, seventy-six first year medical students improved their communication skills by interviewing volunteers from the homes. The task was to interview an independently living older person, not to gain a medical history but to gain a deep understanding of this person through a life narrative.

Students benefitted by stepping outside the medical model of history taking and examination and learning how to relate to an older person and were enriched through this contact with living history. Many of the residents said that they had never expected to have an experience like this in their lives. They felt honoured to be asked to help in the development of the next generation of doctors.

Associate Professor George Somers thanked the volunteers, the staff and his own team for making the VIP such a success. He said that Monash University, particularly in Gippsland, was well-known for its community engagement, and that programs like this would deepen its ties with the community. He acknowledged the hard work of the program coordinator, Dr Sonia Allen. He had returned earlier that week from the Third International Clinical Skills Conference in Italy, where he successfully presented the program. During the following year, the program will be expanded. It would increase its focus on the social determinants of health, so that students would better understand the effect of day-to-day life on one’s wellbeing and longevity. With the predicted increase in life-span up to 130 years by 2050, these young medical students are likely to see a great many older persons throughout their careers.

GIPSIE programme for international medical graduates

Dr Alistair Wright and Prof Debra Nestel have developed a programme in clinical excellence to support international medical graduates working in Gippsland. Gippsland Inspiring Professional Standards for International Experts (GIPSIE) is funded by the Department of Human Services (Victoria), is supported by academics and clinicians from Gippsland and is based at Gippsland Medical School. The aim of the programme is to support local IMGs in attaining the highest standards of professional medical practice. Content focuses on commonly occurring clinical events together with the development of self-awareness. The next GIPSIE programme commences with a weekend workshop in June followed by four fortnightly meetings. Between sessions participants access the GISPIE website (www.gipsie.org.au/) designed to support flexible learning.

Opportunities are provided to learn in simulation addressing patient assessment, prescribing, procedural, management of acutely ill patients and a range of critical professional skills such as telephone communication and handover. Although educational methods that are known to have maximum impact and promote continuous learning for professional practice have been implemented alternative approaches are being explored and evaluated. Preliminary evaluation results suggest GIPSIE is highly supportive of the development of professional skills in participants.

The Gippsland Medical School hosted two visiting students

Our names are Irum and Priyanga and we are third year medical students from the UK.  We were given a great opportunity by Gippsland Medical School to carry out a 6 week research project entitled GIPSIE under the supervision of Professor Debra Nestel during our summer holidays.

Our trip as a whole, has been a fantastic experience which would not have been made possible without the support and guidance of everyone at Monash University from staff to students.

Our 6 week research project gave us a chance to learn and demonstrate new research skills, alongside dedicated staff professionals who gave up their own personal time and effort to teach and encourage us to reach our goals.

During our time here, we implemented a Teddy Bear Hospital Scheme at Monash University, a project that we were both heavily involved in back home.  The idea was well received by both staff and students alike and we have high hopes for the Pilot that will be run in October this year.

Being able to live on campus with other medical students has made our time here incredibly memorable.  The friendships and memories that we have created here over the last few weeks are ones that we hope to take home with us and we look forward to another opportunity to return!

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