Rural Medicine

MDRS Year 2 Rural Program

Building on the year one rural experience, you will spend time in your respective rural learning communities with the MDRS cohort. Students have the opportunity to explore rural clinical learning environments, engage in the MD year two  curriculum while immersed in the rural context.

They also continue to develop their relationships with local learning, teaching and support staff. MDRS students are encouraged to select an Advanced Studies research project that is rurally focused and supervised. Flinders rural academics provide ongoing research projects and student supervision to ensure successive groups of medical students can contribute to a particular research topic. This will ultimately provide long-term findings and benefits for local communities, while offering students important insights int o the health needs of rural communities.

More information: Advanced studies webpage

This is an opportunity to spend your whole year three based in a rural learning community, an exciting  program based in the Riverland, Barossa Valley, Greater Green Triangle (GGT) or Hills/Mallee/Fleurieu (HMF) The opportunity to learn and consolidate skills aimed at preparing you for your Junior Doctor years are provided across years three and four of the MD program. The rural stream gives you access to supported learning with a hands on approach.  You will be immersed in rural general practice, local hospitals and health services to learn about the approaches to healthcare in context of smaller communities. Supervising doctors will provide you with patient exposure and allow participation in supervised procedural work. The consulting and treatment rooms of rural doctors surgeries will provide a vital opportunity for you to observe a wide variety of medical conditions. Clinical learning opportunities are supported by lectures, workshops and small group teaching throughout the year.

To understand the benefit, rewards and challenges of living and working in a rural context you will have the opportunity to meet a broad range of skilled clinicians who have actively chosen a career in rural medicine.

In year four, all MD students are required to undertake at least one five-week rural rotation.

While opportunities are always increasing, rural rotations include general medicine, surgery, anaesthetics, psychiatry emergency or obstetrics/gynaecology in rural hospitals, Aboriginal health services and general practice.

Onsite rural clinicians provide structured teaching during these rotations. Virtual teaching and learning platforms are utilized to support the program.

Leaning opportunities are provided through participation at clinical meetings, visits to relevant agencies and observation of experienced practitioners.

Areas of placement may include: