Media release – Professor Tony Lawler, Chief Medical Officer, 15 January 2023
Tasmania’s hospitals welcome new wave of doctors-in-training
Tasmania’s public hospitals have welcomed 96 new medical interns – first year doctors – to start a new chapter in their careers.
Employed by the Tasmanian Government, the 2023 intake sees 44 interns start at the Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH), 41 at the Launceston General Hospital (LGH) and 11 at the North West Regional Hospital (NWRH).
Interns have been participating in orientation programs to familiarise themselves with their new hospitals, including clinical teaching and role shadowing with last year’s cohort.
After orientation, these doctors start their first rotation through a variety of specialities, including the Emergency Department, surgery, and general medicine.
Resident medical officers (RMOs) – doctors with one to three years of previous experience – have also begun new placements across the Tasmanian Health Service (THS), with many of these having chosen to continue to work with the THS.
Chief Medical Officer Professor Tony Lawler welcomed the new doctors to the vital role they will perform at the frontline of the health system.
“Doctors-in-training form a critical part of our health workforce, so it is fantastic to welcome the new interns to the Tasmanian Health Service as part of the 2023 cohort,” Professor Lawler said.
“Tasmania is a great place for doctors to start their careers with the opportunity to work alongside highly skilled senior doctors, have unique clinical experiences, and benefit from great teaching and education opportunities.
“This is so important because we know interns who have a great experience here are more likely to live and work in Tasmania in the future.
“I would like to wish our interns every success as they start out on their professional journeys.”
Some of the interns and RMOs beginning their placements are also participating in the Rural Pathways Program, designed to fast track a career to rural medicine by providing placements that will provide preparation for working as a rural GP.
Three of the new interns at the NWRH and six at the LGH have rural scholarships as part of the Rural Pathways Program, while seven of last year’s NWRH interns are staying on as rural pathway RMOs.
Professor Lawler said the program was key to building a strong rural workforce and thereby strengthening the whole health system.
“The Rural Pathways Program will help us to create a pipeline of clinicians trained to work across rural and regional Tasmania, which will benefit the health system as a whole.
“The program provides resident medical officers with essential rotations to support a career in rural medicine, including paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, and rural general practice.
“It’s fantastic to see new interns starting on the pathway as well as last year’s interns staying on as rural pathway doctors.”
Interns and RMOs come to the program as graduates of the University of Tasmania (UTAS), as well as from interstate.
