JCU Medicine 25 year Anniversary Celebration
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JCU Medicine 25 year Anniversary Celebration
Celebrate 25years of Medicine at JCU
Location: Townsville
Dates: 9 - 10 May 2025
For the past quarter century, we have been preparing students for their careers in medicine and have taken great pride in the collective impact our graduates have made. To celebrate our progress and people, we are inviting those connected with JCU medicine to join us for an Anniversary Celebration weekend.
This momentous occasion is an opportunity for our valued alumni, esteemed colleagues and supporters to reconnect, reflect on the remarkable achievements of the past, and be inspired by the future of medical excellence.
This event is sponsored by North Queensland Regional Training Hubs and Private Emergency Health Australia, Mater, IPN Medical Centres, Aurora Healthcare, AVANT and RACGP.
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29th April 2025
A career built from the ground up: Dr Jason Yates Reflects on 25 Years of JCU Medicine
When Dr Jason Yates walked through the doors of James Cook University’s fledgling medical school more than two decades ago, he was part of a bold experiment — the first cohort of a new generation of doctors, trained in the North for the North. “I reflect positively on my time at JCU for so many reasons," Dr Yates says. "Given it was the first new med school in so long and certainly the first new one in Queensland, there was a significant inferiority complex that we weren't as good as UQ. However, the faculty were amazing at making all of us feel like we belonged." That sense of belonging, mentorship, and family left a deep impression on the young medical student from North Queensland. "They treated the first cohort like family, helping us settle in, guiding us, and giving a level of support unlikely afforded at bigger medical schools," he recalls. Now, as the Acting Chief Operating Officer at Townsville Hospital and Health Service and a specialist paediatric endocrinologist, Dr Yates reflects with pride on how JCU Medicine shaped not just his career but also his philosophy of healthcare leadership. A pivotal conversation, early on, still stands out. "Professor Alan Sive talked to me about making a decision about medicine as a vocation rather than a career," Dr Yates says. "I hold that sentiment even today and hope that we can pass on that mentality to the new generation of doctors." Answering the Call of the North JCU's mission to serve rural, remote, and regional communities became a calling for Dr Yates. “JCU gave an opportunity to those born and bred in North Queensland to follow a career path that was usually far harder to pursue from our location," he says. "They gave us permission to stay, to serve, and to build sustainable careers right here." Dr Yates still loves the North Queensland lifestyle and continues to call Townsville home. "I feel privileged to provide a service to families in North Queensland that would have previously had to travel to Brisbane to receive," Dr Yates says. "I’m honoured to add value to a part of the world that has given me so much over my life." Throughout his career, Dr Yates has been deeply committed to advancing healthcare in the regions. He was the first paediatric accredited basic trainee at Townsville Hospital and Health Service, completing a significant portion of his training locally before further specialising at Brisbane’s Royal and Mater Children's Hospitals. Reflecting on the broader impact of JCU Medicine over the past 25 years, he points to the visible — and measurable — difference its graduates have made. "The proof is in the pudding. There is a significant number of JCU graduates working in regional parts of Australia across all specialties," he says. "But it’s not just about numbers — it’s about the deep commitment they show to their communities and the advocacy for regional services."
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14th April 2025
Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow: Celebrating 25 Years of JCU Medicine
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8th April 2025
Dr Prue Wallin: A Passion for Rural Medicine
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NQRTH is an initiative of the Australian Government's Integrated Rural Training Pipeline (IRTP) and is facilitated by James Cook University in partnership with public and private hospitals, Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC), health services, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) and GP clinics.
Cairns region
(07) 4226 7138
Central West region
(07) 4764 1547
Mackay region
(07) 4885 7122
North West region
(07) 4764 1547
Torres and Cape region
(07) 4095 6103
Townsville region
(07) 4781 3424