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Spirit of the NQRTH on display in cycling adventure

Since its launch in 2007, the QSuper Cardiac Challenge has become a much-loved institution in Far North Queensland. In late September, nearly 300 cyclists rode 333km from Cairns to Cooktown. But as the Northern Queensland Regional Training Hubs (NQRTH) Doxycyclists will tell you, the three-day adventure was about so much more than cycling. Intern at Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service (CHHHS), Dr Matthias Wust, began the Doxycyclists riding group in 2019. He has championed the team...

Exploring the nitty-gritty of psychiatry training at Mackay Base Hospital

For psychiatry registrar, Dr Beau Harman, choosing Mackay as a training destination to pursue his interest in mental health was a decision that reaped many benefits. “I was always interested in mental health pretty much from the get-go,” says Dr Harman. “I had heard good things about the mental health inpatient unit at Mackay Base Hospital and knew that they offered psychiatry as a rotation within the internship, which not every hospital does. “Doing a psychiatry rot...

Bringing hope to breast cancer patients as a surgeon in Mackay

Surgery can be a competitive discipline to specialise in, with the number of applicants outweighing the number of hospital places available. But according to surgeon and outgoing Director of Surgical Training at Mackay Base Hospital, Doctor Wendela Schimmer, doing an internship at Mackay can help secure a future as a specialist in this demanding field. “Mackay Hospital has grown significantly in size over the years. During the time I’ve been here, we have more than doubled the number...

Going the distance for regional health services in the Far North

Patients and healthcare professionals are painfully aware of how far you may have to travel for access to treatment when you’re living in Far North Queensland. The NQRTH Doxycyclists, a group of James Cook University medical students and junior doctors, are preparing to go the distance themselves to help bring health services to the region, and they’re doing it by bicycle. The Doxycyclists began mid last year as a group of medical students who started riding together as a way of soci...

Taking a passion for rural health to hallowed halls of Harvard

For Dr Helena Franco, growing up in Brisbane and completing her undergraduate training on the Gold Coast made pursuing her career in the city the straightforward choice. But a short GP work experience placement in high school gave her a taste of regional medicine and left a lasting impression. Now, this orthopaedic principal house officer at Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service is preparing to take her passion for rural health to the hallowed halls of Harvard. Helena recently s...