Dr Aditya Kaushal

Large gastroduodenal artery pseudoaneurysm presenting as gastric outlet obstruction

Dr Aditya Kaushal is an Unaccredited General Surgery Registrar at Mildura Base Public Hospital and an Adjunct Clinical Associate Lecturer with the University of Notre Dame Australia. A graduate of Bond University, he is now completing a Master of Surgery at the University of Sydney. Aditya has a strong interest in Hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) surgery, surgical education, and clinical research, with work presented at national surgical conferences. He is passionate about mentoring junior colleagues and advancing evidence-based surgical practice while pursuing a career in General Surgery.

Ai Xin Chew

Escaping the traditional classroom: reflections on an innovative anatomy learning experience for medical students

Ai Xin Chew is a Year 3B postgraduate Doctor of Medicine student at Monash University with strong interests in rural health, surgery, medical education, and clinically applied anatomy. She completed her first year of medicine in Gippsland, where placements at Latrobe Regional Health fostered her appreciation for regional healthcare and multidisciplinary practice. Alongside her studies, she enjoys contributing to research, anatomy education, and student-led initiatives. Ai Xin hopes to pursue further training in rural and regional settings while building a career that combines clinical medicine with teaching and research.

Dr Aidan Hanrahan

Closing the gap or widening it? AI Diagnostics and the risk of entrenching rural and Indigenous health inequity

Preventable vision loss in plain sight: exploring AI-assisted diabetic retinopathy screening for rural and Indigenous communities

Dr Aidan Hanrahan is a PGY1 intern at The Alfred Hospital (Bayside Health). Raised in regional Victoria, he completed his Doctor of Medicine at Monash University and is undertaking a Master of Public Health through the University of Newcastle. His interests include rural and Indigenous health, health equity, ethical artificial intelligence in healthcare, and ophthalmology. Aidan is passionate about improving access to healthcare for rural and underserved communities through research, innovation and evidence-based practice. He intends to return to regional Victoria to contribute to improving the health of regional communities.

Dr Aishath Rahy Abdul Latheef

Implementing the first public Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Service in Victoria: from Mildura Base Public Hospital - A Regional Service

Dr Aishath Abdul Latheef is from the Maldives and completed her medical degree at Monash University Malaysia, which included clinical rotations at Bendigo Health. Since graduating, she has completed her internship and is working as a Hospital Medical Officer at Mildura Base Public Hospital where she developed a strong passion for psychiatry. Working in a regional setting has highlighted the importance of equitable access to high-quality mental health care and inspired her commitment to improving services for local communities. She is dedicated to pursuing a career in psychiatry and looks forward to contributing to the ongoing advancement of psychiatric care in Victoria.

Amanda Tabe

Skipping the speculum: a scoping review of HPV self-collection participation and perspectives in Australia

Amanda Tabe is a 3rd-year medical student with Monash University, currently on placement at The Alfred Hospital. She holds a MSc in Global Health from McMaster University, and a BScH in Life Sciences from Queen's University. She has worked as a Knowledge Exchange Coordinator for the BC First Nations Health Authority in Canada. Amanda has a special interest in women's health, Indigenous health, and health equity.

Amy Luo

Peripheral nerve blocks and additives: an audit of duration of action, postoperative analgesia, and opioid consumption at Latrobe Regional Health

Amy is a 3rd-year Monash medical student on placement at Latrobe Regional Health (LRH) for the next two years. After relocating to Gippsland, Amy has become fascinated by the unique aspects of rural health. She has since been appointed the Traralgon representative of the WILDFIRE committee (Monash University's Indigenous and Rural Health Club). With a strong interest in anaesthetics and practice in a rural setting, Amy is the student lead of an LRH audit exploring the use of peripheral nerve blocks and their additives. She is also a co-lead site coordinator for the nationwide SUGAR study, and an associate researcher for the Australian Diabetes Clinical Quality Registry (ADCQR).

Dr Andrea Reyes

Bridging distances: adapting global models and best practices in interfacility patient transport to strengthen rural healthcare in the Philippines

Dr Andrea Reyes is a Hospital Medical Officer at Mildura Base Public Hospital, Victoria. She graduated with a Doctor of Medicine from the University of the Philippines Manila and has clinical experience across the Philippine and Australian healthcare systems in paediatrics, neonatal medicine and rural health. Her professional interests include retrieval medicine, rural healthcare systems, and improving equitable access to care through evidence-informed patient transport and referral models. She intends to pursue specialist training in paediatrics, with a particular interest in neonatal retrieval and transport medicine.

Angela Mekel

Appropriateness of antimicrobial use in patients admitted to Echuca Regional Health: a quality assurance project

Angela Mekel is a final-year medical student in the University of Melbourne's Doctor of Medicine Rural Pathway, having trained in Shepparton and Echuca. Growing up in Bendigo and training entirely in regional Victoria, Angela has a deep commitment to rural and regional medicine and intends to pursue a career as a rural doctor. Her research interests include clinical quality improvement in rural health settings. This year she has completed a quality assurance project on antimicrobial prescribing appropriateness at Echuca Regional Health as part of the final year of her degree.

Angus Skeen

Beyond ICD-10-AM Codes: free-text identification reveals under-ascertainment of Benzodiazepine-related poisonings in emergency departments

Angus Skeen is a fourth-year medical student at Monash University and an undergraduate student researcher at the Monash Addiction Research Centre. His research interests include clinical epidemiology and the integration of emerging technologies into modern healthcare. His work examines the epidemiology of benzodiazepine-related harm across Victorian emergency departments using state-wide clinical datasets, with a focus on improving disease surveillance and informing public health policy. Angus has contributed to a range of collaborative clinical research projects and is passionate about translating high-quality evidence into meaningful improvements in healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.

Dr Ashail Silva

Beyond the hospital: lessons for improving cardiac rehabilitation access in rural Australia

Dr Ashail Silva is an unaccredited Cardiology Registrar at Latrobe Regional Health. He completed his medical degree through the Northern Territory Medical Program at Flinders University before undertaking his internship and Basic Physician Training across Royal Darwin Hospital, Palmerston Regional Hospital, and Katherine Hospital. His clinical interests include cardiovascular disease prevention, heart failure management, rural and remote cardiology, and improving access to specialist services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Dr Ashail is actively involved in clinical research and quality improvement projects focused on cardiovascular prevention, cardiac rehabilitation, and rural health service delivery. His long-term goal is to complete Advanced Training in Cardiology and contribute to cardiovascular care across regional and northern Australia.

Cadence Pang and Chloe Romanowicz

The medical student experience: application of our insights to create a lasting and quality rural workforce

Cadence completed her schooling in Cobram and is now completing year 3B medical placements at Bendigo Health. She plans to live and work in rural Victoria, focussing on General Practice, obstetrics or both.

Chloe is a metro-educated 3B medical student currently placed at The Alfred Hospital. She is keen to explore a career in fast-paced medical environments, such as critical care in rural areas after being inspired by a brief rural placement in Bendigo.

Chen Wang

Predicting visual function before glaucoma onset from baseline optical coherence tomography scans using deep learning

Chen is a final-year medical student at Monash University currently completing his placements in Bendigo. He is President of the Monash University Medical Undergraduate Society (MUMUS) and is interested in ophthalmology. Outside of medicine, Chen enjoys walking his dog and dabbling in writing.

Chloe Chua

From industry to health workforce: a place-based perspective on rural health planning

Chloe is a final-year medical student at Monash University. Her Scholarly Intensive Placement research project explores how dominant rural industries influence community health needs and the implications for healthcare workforce planning. This year, she completed a semester-long placement in Sale, which strengthened her interest in rural and regional medicine. Chloe is dedicated to improving equitable access to healthcare for rural communities and hopes to pursue a career as a Rural Generalist, with women's health as her advanced skill.

Chloe Dowd

Socioeconomic status, rurality, and stage at diagnosis in early-onset colorectal cancer: a New South Wales based cohort study

Chloe is a fourth-year medical student in the Joint Medical Program at the University of Newcastle. She is completing her clinical placement at Manning Base Hospital in Taree. Raised in rural NSW, Chloe is passionate about women's and global health. She aspires to a career in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, with the goal of delivering compassionate, comprehensive care to rural and regional communities.

Dr Elizabeth Bartetzko

Ultrasound analysis of the structural components of common skin flap donor sites used in free tissue transfer

Elizabeth is a Surgical Resident at St Vincents Hospital Melbourne, committed to improving patient outcomes through research.

Emma Murray

Liver transplantation in metastatic colorectal cancer with liver-only disease

Emma is a third-year medical student at Monash University, completing a clinical placement at Latrobe Regional Health. She maintains an active role in medical engagement, including volunteering with Australian Red Cross Lifeblood and the Social Prescribing Student Collective. She also creates academic resources for junior students, while maintaining a High Distinction average. Emma has a strong interest in cardiac physiology and orthopaedic surgery and is curious about new realms of medicine. Outside of her studies, she enjoys running, marathon kayaking, drawing, and reading.

Emma Wang

Clinicopathological profile and latency of brain metastasis in breast cancer at a regional centre

Emma Wang is a third-year medical student at Monash University, completing placements at Latrobe Regional Health. She is passionate about oncology and paediatrics.

Flynn Scriven

Association between pre-operative opioid use and postoperative outcomes following hip and knee arthroplasty at Latrobe Regional Health Service

Growing up in rural Maleny, Queensland, Flynn has completed clinical placements in Traralgon and Warragul, where he developed a passion for broad-scope rural medicine. Flynn works as a clinical coder with RACGP, and volunteers as a Digital Crisis Supporter with Lifeline Australia. He is also the rural Vice President for Monash Universities psychiatry interest group where he is actively involved in creating events to promote rural Psychiatry. He has been involved in research spanning Oncology, Haematology, Anaesthetics and Primary Care. Flynn hopes to pursue a career as a rural Generalist or a rural psychiatrist combining clinical practice, research and medical education to improve health outcomes for rural and regional communities.

Gaia Duan

Treatment patterns and survival following breast cancer brain metastasis at a regional centre

Gaia Duan is a third-year Bachelor of Medical Science/Doctor of Medicine (BMedSci/MD) student at Monash University. She is undertaking her first clinical placement year at Latrobe Regional Health. Gaia has a particular interest in oncology and gastroenterology, and is keen to explore how these specialties intersect with rural and regional health, including the challenges of access and continuity of care outside metropolitan areas. She is passionate about continuing to build her clinical experience in rural communities as she progresses through her medical training.

Dr Giorgia Agnostini

Visualizing the invisible sanctuary: why serial MRI is essential in non-symptomatic spinal infections

Dr Giorgia Agostini started her RANZCR Radiology Training Program in February and is working at Latrobe Regional Health I-MED Radiology. She comes from Italy, where she graduated and began her medical training, before moving to Australis, where she fell in love with the country, its work ethic, and its workplace culture.

Gustav Scroce

Anticoagulation prescribing patterns in acute pulmonary embolism, including cancer-associated PE, at a regional centre

Gustav Scroce is a third-year medical student placed at Latrobe Regional Health. Earlier this year, Gustav received an Academic Excellence award from Mannix College recognising a high distinction performance in 2025. Gustav has been involved in the Monash Peer Support Program through written resources, quizzes and in-person lecture delivery. Last year, he was a member of the Preventative Medicine Summit committee at Monash, preparing a presentation for a session in the summit. When not in semester, Gustav is cleaning windows in Ballarat.

Hailey Asfar

Bendigo Health plastic surgery excisional margins of skin cancer: a clinical audit and literature review

Hailey is a final-year medical student at Monash University with a strong commitment to rural health. Having grown up rurally and clinically trained across regional Victoria, she has developed a deep personal and professional connection to rural healthcare and gained broad experience in these settings. Most recently, she completed an 18-week placement at Bendigo Health, where she conducted a comprehensive literature review and audit of excisional margins in skin cancer cases managed by the plastic surgery department. Hailey is passionate about rural medicine and intends to build her medical career within these communities.

Dr Harrison Howell

Bringing the retina into focus: a self-built fundoscopy simulator for student training

Harrison is a medical intern at Gold Coast University Hospital with a strong interest in ophthalmology, rural health, and medical education. Raised near Bendigo, he completed a Bachelor of Biomedicine at the University of Melbourne before moving to Queensland to earn his medical degree from Griffith University. Harrison is actively engaged in rural health research, focusing on improving access to specialist services and understanding the broader impacts of healthcare delivery in regional communities. Alongside his clinical work, he is passionate about medical education and aims to develop innovative ways to bridge the gap between textbook learning and patient care.

Dr Hena Jawaid

The life of Malcolm X, the experience of exclusion and indigenous mental health crisis: How are these linked together?

Hena Jawaid is a medical doctor with a fellowship in clinical psychiatry. She came to Australia in 2017 and pursued her career as a mental health advocate, psychotherapist and a writer. She is an avid reader and researcher about the intersection of social sciences and psychology with respect to different cultural and religious orientations. She is currently working as a psychiatry registrar in the Latrobe Valley.

Hugo Bogdan

Improving early pregnancy care in regional Australia: a retrospective audit of a regional early pregnancy assessment clinic (EPAC)

Hugo is a final-year medical student at the University of Melbourne. He is interested in rural generalism, particularly alpine and expedition medicine. He completed a Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne, majoring in Physiology, where he graduated with First Class Honours and made the Dean’s Honours List. Between completing his science degree and commencing medicine, he worked as a research assistant in a university stem cell research laboratory and as a research intern at a lab-grown meat startup. He now works as a tutor, running classes for undergraduate physiology and anatomy students.

Dr Jacqueline Lim

Occult closed-loop small bowel obstruction: the importance of clinical assessment and multidisciplinary radiology review in avoiding inappropriate water-soluble contrast administration

Dr Jacqueline Lim is a PGY2 Hospital Medical Officer at Latrobe Regional Health, where she also completed her internship after graduating from Monash University in 2024. Working in a regional hospital has strengthened her commitment to delivering high-quality care to rural communities. She aspires to become an interventional radiologist. Her research interests focus on exploring the relationship between surgical management and radiological investigations to optimize patient outcomes. Jacqueline is also passionate about medical education and promoting the value of multidisciplinary teamwork to deliver holistic, patient-centred healthcare.

Jad Saeed

The effectiveness of remote or blended supervision models compared with traditional on-site supervision among rural generalist trainees

Jad Saeed is a postgraduate medical student at Monash University with interests in rural health, health equity, medical education and improving access to care for underserved communities. Jad has extensive experience working across community services, with a focus on supporting young people and promoting social inclusion and equitable access to opportunities. He was recognised as the National Multicultural Young Leader of the Year for his contributions to the community. Jad is involved in research examining remote and blended supervision models for rural generalist trainees and is passionate about combining medicine, research and community engagement to improve healthcare access and outcomes.

Jennifer Allan

From pilot to practice: five years on from a Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Pilot in a rural hospital

Jennifer is a fourth-year medical student at Monash University, undertaking her training through the Extended Rural Cohort program. She has completed clinical placements in Mildura and East Gippsland—experiences that strengthened her passion for rural healthcare and highlighted the strengths and challenges of medical practice in regional communities. She is Co-President of WILDFIRE, Monash’s Rural and Indigenous Health Student Club, advocating for rural and First Nations health education and student wellbeing. Jennifer is committed to pursuing a career in rural medicine to improve healthcare access and outcomes for rural and remote Australians.

Dr Jess Wynn and Callie Stavrou (presenting on behalf of Dr Wynn)

Escherichia coli resistance patterns in regional Victoria: are empirical antibiotics helping patients or fuelling superbugs?

Jess is a urology registrar based in Ballarat. Originally from Melbourne, she completed medical school in regional and rural Victoria. She has worked in Ballarat, Geelong and Warrnambool and loves the new experiences each town offered. Jess is passionate about providing healthcare to these communities and once she completes training, hopes to continue looking after patients in regional and rural Victoria.

Dr Joshua Van Den Hoek

Failure to rescue amongst patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery: a retrospective analysis at a regional Victorian hospital

Joshua Van Den Hoek is a PGY2 doctor at Bendigo Health with a strong focus on rural and regional general surgery, and specific interests in emergency and trauma care. Raised in Ballarat in Victoria’s Central Highlands, Joshua completed his medical degree at Monash University in 2024 before completing his internship and resident training at Bendigo Health.

Having spent his life in regional Victoria—grounded by personal connections to local farming and regional communities—Joshua is deeply committed to improving surgical outcomes, equity, and access to care for regional patient populations.

Dr Kayla Gallert

Researching the research: a reflection

Dr Kayla Gallert is a PGY2/BPT1 at Alfred Health. Kayla spent most of her life in Gippsland and completed rural placements in Leongatha and Traralgon. With an interest in research and clinical care, Kayla hopes to return to give back and learn from the community that has shaped and inspired her.

Dr Kohila Ganadhiepan

Zanubrutinib-associated pericardial effusion in relapsed atypical chronic lymphocytic leukaemia: diagnostic and management challenges in a rural hospital

Dr Kohila Ganadhiepan is a Basic Physician Trainee (BPT 2) registrar. She has been working at Latrobe Regional Health for more than two years and is an Adjunct Lecturer with Monash Rural Health, coaching and mentoring medical students.

Dr Maria Ortiz Pesantez

The hidden strength of diversity: how women International Medical Graduates transform rural healthcare through cultural connection, compassion and resilience.

Dr Maria is a dedicated medical doctor of Ecuadorian heritage whose cultural background has shaped her deep commitment to health equity and rural healthcare. Growing up with a firsthand appreciation for the challenges faced by resource-limited populations, she developed a passion for improving access to care in underserved communities. Through her clinical training, Maria has built strong expertise in patient-centred care, teamwork, and interdisciplinary collaboration. She is dedicated to practicing in rural and regional areas, where she aims to provide accessible, culturally responsive, and evidence-based care while continuing to grow professionally as a clinician.

Mark Gerges

Diagnostic coronary angiography in regional Victoria: radiation dose distribution and national benchmarking

Who pays what for lipids: Australian annual expenditure from statins to siRNA in 2025

Mark Gerges is a fourth-year medical student at Monash University based at Dhelkaya Health in Castlemaine, where he is completing his second year of rural training. He is passionate about improving healthcare access in regional communities, with particular interests in cardiology, primary care, and systems-level data to help bridge the gap between rural and metropolitan areas. Mark has contributed to quality improvement projects and clinical audits focused on real-world data and evidence-based care.

Dr Muvazam Allauddin Holalkere

Guillain Barre Syndrome in early pregnancy following household exposure to Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease: a diagnostic challenge

Dr Muvazam AH is a Hospital Medical Officer at Latrobe Regional Health. He is a highly motivated, safety-focused doctor with a strong interest in clinical teaching and research in regional settings. As a mentor for International Medical Graduates (IMGs), he helps colleagues navigate the Australian healthcare system. His goal is to become an Interventional Radiologist, bringing specialized expertise to regional communities to perform time-critical procedures and provide safe, compassionate care for his patients.

Dr Noah Pallot

The Network - By Doctors, For Doctors: connecting Gippsland’s medical workforce

Noah is a Rural Generalist Registrar at Central Gippsland Health Service, completing his ACRRM Fellowship across General Practice, Emergency Medicine, and Anaesthetics. Having grown up in a rural community, he pursued the majority of his clinical placements in rural and regional settings, driven by a strong commitment to strengthening rural health outcomes. Beyond clinical practice, Noah is a Board Director at Gippsland PHN, incoming President of the Rural Doctors Association of Victoria, Adjunct Lecturer at Monash University’s School of Rural Health, and founder and Chair of The Network Gippsland.

Prabhjit Sandhu

From Mansfield to medicine: rural students need belonging, not Just exposure

Prabh Sandhu is a Year 4 medical student at Monash University with a strong interest in rural and regional healthcare. He grew up in Mansfield, an MM5 rural community that shaped his understanding of access, distance, continuity and community in healthcare. Prior to medicine, Prabh was involved in rural youth leadership and advocacy, including serving as a Rural Youth Ambassador and representing rural young people in state and federal settings. He is interested in rural general practice, procedural medicine, women’s health and musculoskeletal/sports injury care, and hopes to contribute long-term to communities like the one he grew up in.

Dr Preethi George Pandeth

Bridging the simulation gap: from 3D printer to practice in regional procedural education

Dr Preethi George Pandeth is an ANZCA Introductory Trainee at Mildura Base Public Hospital in regional Victoria. Since moving to Australia, she has trained entirely in regional centres, where she has developed a strong interest in regional anaesthesia, practical education and quality improvement. Her current work focuses on using low-cost 3D-printed models to make procedural skills training more accessible in resource-limited settings. She enjoys finding practical solutions to everyday training challenges and is passionate about multidisciplinary learning, supporting trainees, and helping deliver high-quality care closer to home.

Dr Rochelle Vaz

Healing under pressure: a literature review comparing negative pressure wound therapy vs standard dressings for open wounds

Rochelle is a Monash University Malaysia alumna, and current Unaccredited General Surgical Registrar (PGY5) at Bendigo Health. She has a keen interest in General surgery and Plastic surgery, fuelled by surgical apprenticeships in Oman during the COVID-19 pandemic. With training experience in underdeveloped, developing and developed countries as well as in major surgical specialties, she hopes to become a surgeon.

Dr Rongyi Yang

Perioperative anaphylaxis in a regional Victorian health service: a five-year audit

Dr. Rongyi Yang is a PGY2 Resident Medical Officer at Goulburn Valley Health, currently completing an anaesthetics rotation. He is pursuing a career in anaesthetics with a strong interest in regional practice, drawn to the clinical breadth, teaching opportunities, and quality improvement work central to the specialty. With a focus on first-principles clinical reasoning and perioperative safety, Dr. Yang is  leading a five-year audit of perioperative anaphylaxis management at GV Health in collaboration with the departmental anaesthetics team.

Dr Samuel Stratton-Smith

The logistics of creating a new subspecialty fellow role in the private system

Samuel Stratton-Smith is a  junior doctor with a clinical background across a diverse specialties and resource levels. He is passionate about the structural factors influencing health outcomes in rural and remote areas, which has informed his pursuits in teaching and research. He has completed further training in surgical anatomy and ongoing education in public health.

Shriya Patel

Epidural analgesia provision in a regional obstetric unit: a prospective clinical audit at Latrobe Regional Hospital

Shriya Patel is a third-year medical student at Monash University, completing clinical placements at Latrobe Regional Hospital (LRH). Originally from Ballarat, she has a strong connection to rural and regional communities and intends to return to practice in this context. Shriya wants to pursue a career in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. She is the lead investigator of a prospective clinical audit examining epidural analgesia provision at LRH's obstetric unit, developed in collaboration with the anaesthetic and obstetric departments. She is passionate about quality improvement and evidence-based practice in regional women's health.

Shuobing (Shelby) Kuang

Retrospective single-time-point bottleneck analysis of factors influencing discharge from the Emergency Department for patients referred for admission with an inpatient bed request made on ePR. Supported by observation of processes to understand frequency and factors influencing patient flow delays.

Shuobing (Shelby) Kuang is a final year medical student, and member of the Monash University Extended Rural Cohort. She completed her rural placements in Traralgon, Maffra, Warragul and Bendigo. Her clinical learning and personal experiences in these towns, has strengthened her commitment to improving health outcomes in these areas.

Dr Sital Karki

Disseminated Herpes Zoster in a 65-year-old female from rural Victoria: a diagnostic challenge in a low-resource setting

Originally from Nepal, Dr Karki is now a Hospital Medical Officer in Bendigo. He is eager to pursue the Rural Generalist pathway in the Loddon Mallee region, with special interests in adult internal medicine and emergency medicine. He thrives on the challenges of acute care and the continuity of managing complex chronic diseases. His goal is to serve the local community through culturally sensitive, patient-centred practice, bridging gaps in healthcare access and building long-term trust.

Dr Sofia Persson

Evaluating a dedicated heavy menstrual bleeding clinic in a regional service: a cross-sectional mixed-methods study of the first six months

Sofia is a PGY1 Doctor from Far North Queensland, now working at Austin Health Melbourne. She has passion for rural medicine having done her placements through the University of Melbourne Rural Clinical School in Shepparton and Ballarat. In her final year of medical school, Sofia was elected as Vice President Internal of UniMelb Outlook Rural Health Club, which supports healthcare students on rural placement through advocacy and events. She is passionate about sustainability, chairing an academic session for the UniMelb annual medical student conference addressing the impact of climate change on rural community health. This year she is one of Austin Health HMO Society's Sustainability Officers.

Dr Sophie Fontaine

Evaluating the impact of occupational psychological microtrauma on Emergency Department staff: informing evidence-based strategies to optimise employee mental health and wellbeing support

Sophie Fontaine is a junior doctor with a strong interest in rural generalism, emergency medicine and wilderness medicine. She is passionate about delivering high-quality care in rural and remote settings and supporting the wellbeing of healthcare professionals. Her current research explores the impact of occupational psychological microtrauma on emergency department staff and barriers to accessing psychological support. Sophie is committed to advancing rural healthcare through clinical practice, research and education and is particularly interested in the intersection of emergency medicine, austere environments and the unique challenges faced by rural clinicians and communities.

Suzanne Hill

Improving diagnostic decision architecture in rural hospital care: a d-dimer audit

Learning again: a mid‑career medical student’s guide to surviving youthful colleagues

Suzanne Hill is a final‑year medical student at the School of Rural Health in Dubbo, building on a 20‑year career as a diagnostic radiographer. She has worked across Western NSW in imaging, clinical education, and rural program development, including designing an interventional radiology service that expanded access for smaller communities. Her research spans infection prevention and control in medical imaging environments, and rural emergency care. Now transitioning into junior medical practice, she is committed to training and serving communities across central western NSW and beyond, where her family plans to settle long‑term.

Dr Thomas Davis

Perioperative optimisation in urgent laparotomy patients at GV Health

Thomas Davis grew up in the Grampians region. He worked as an Occupational Therapist and Hand Therapist for five years before studying medicine at the University of Wollongong. He is now a PGY2 doctor at GV Health with an interest in critical care and plans to pursue specialist training in the field.

Ty Cunningham

Clinical utility of colonoscopy in adults aged ≥80 years: diagnostic yield, downstream management and patient outcomes in regional Australia

Ty Cunningham is a final-year medical student at the University of Tasmania with a strong interest in general surgery and regional healthcare. He completed much of his clinical training through the Rural Clinical School across North-West Tasmania, including a selective rotation in Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery at Launceston General Hospital. Inspired by the broad scope and diversity of general surgery in regional centres, Ty took part in cadaveric surgical workshops and state surgical conferences to further develop his anatomical knowledge and technical understanding. He is also involved in colorectal research evaluating the clinical utility of colonoscopy in adults aged 80 years and older, with a focus on improving evidence-based care for regional populations.

Vidarshana Satish

Grass roots clinical research: whole arm pitting oedema test, from genesis to research

Ms Vidarshana Satish is a final-year medical student at the School of Rural Health, University of Sydney. She holds a double degree in Biomedicine and Science from Monash University. As part of the end-to-end rural cohort, she is completing her placements at Dubbo Health Service and surrounds, where she has cultivated her passion for rural medicine and research. She hopes to continue a career in rural medicine closer to home in Victoria, with an aspiration towards rural paediatrics.

William Terry

The hidden cost of rural medical training: a student reflection on placement equity

William is a fourth-year BMedSci/MD student at Monash University, based in Mildura. He is Co-President of WILDFIRE, Monash University's rural and Indigenous health student club, where he leads student advocacy, coordinates rural clinical skills events, and drives initiatives supporting regional medical students. William's professional interests include rural generalism, primary care, health workforce policy, and optimizing the systems that support clinicians and students in regional communities. He aspires to combine rural clinical practice, research, and policy advocacy to promote sustainable regional and remote healthcare.

Yesha Parikh

Shock that didn't fit: unmasking paediatric myocarditis in regional Victoria

Yesha Parikh is a fourth-year medical student with Monash Rural Health. Through placements at Bendigo Health and West Gippsland Hospital, she has developed a keen interest in surgery and acute care, with particular interests in cardiothoracic and paediatric surgery. Her experiences in regional medicine have fostered a strong appreciation for equitable healthcare delivery, multidisciplinary teamwork and the unique challenges of providing high-quality care outside metropolitan centres. She is interested in combining clinical practice with research and education, and hopes to contribute to improving access to high-quality healthcare for rural and regional communities throughout her career.