Interns a welcome addition in 2022

Orientation week saw 106 first-year junior doctors begin a 12-month internship with Monash Health.

Over the next year they will move through a variety of specialties including ED, surgery, medicine and psychiatry, deployed across several Monash Health sites.

Many will undertake a term at a rural hospital.

Orientation week involved online information sessions on myriad topics, including PPE and infection prevention, handover and managing deteriorating patients.

Developing self-care skills to support wellbeing across the year was also a key topic.

The interns joined their new teams on ‘shadow shifts’ to meet their supervisors and the outgoing interns.

Emergency physician at Monash Medical Centre Bradley Dick supervised 10 interns starting rotation in the emergency department at Clayton.

Dr Dick has been running online orientation sessions and organising shadow shifts, including in the new state-of-the-art ED facilities.

‘Despite joining us at a unique moment in medical history, the ED interns have already shown great engagement.

‘Online technologies and social media have been a game-changer for us in quickly getting them up to speed remotely.

‘We are taking a more gradual approach with orientation than in pre-pandemic years,’ said Dr Dick, who has been supervising interns deployed to ED for the last five years.

‘We’re all dealing with COVID in both our personal and work lives, so information overload is something we are very mindful of.’

ED intern Jessie Gwillim is no stranger to Monash Health, having completed her third-year university placement and bachelor of medical science (honours) research there.

On starting out a medical career mid-pandemic, Dr Gwillim said at times it had been overwhelming. ‘Although we’ve been students in the hospital during the pandemic, the transition from student to doctor will be a steep learning curve.

‘Overall, I’m excited to start and see what this year brings.’

‘I was initially apprehensive about starting my internship, not knowing many people, but everyone has been really supportive and friendly,’ said ED intern Tianchi Ren.

‘It’s been really helpful for my transition into work.’

‘We are very grateful to all the senior and junior medical employees involved in setting our interns up for a successful start at Monash Health, particularly during this latest COVID wave,’ said Monash doctors education director and consultant in general and geriatric medicine Christina Johnson.

‘It is a big step up from being a medical student to working as a junior doctor.

‘So, it’s fantastic that no matter where they are deployed, they’re supported by our experienced employees, particularly nurses, allied health and ward clerks, as well as medical employees,’ Associate Professor Johnson said.

Chief medical officer and medical services executive director Anjali Dhulia welcomed the class of 2022.

‘Monash Health’s expanding footprint affords extensive opportunities for those of you who choose to grow your career with us – and we hope that is all of you.

‘We wish you all the very best in this new chapter of life and hope you have a tremendous year with us,’ Associate Professor Dhulia said.

Pictured above

Monash Medical Centre emergency department interns Tianchi Ren, Suwandi Dewapura, Samuel Penfold, Jessie Gwillim, Jason Zhong with ED intern supervisor Bradley Dick.