Committed to the North: Dr Jason Yates

When Dr Jason Yates walked through the doors of James Cook University’s fledgling medical school more than two decades ago, he became part of a bold and hopeful experiment — the very first cohort of a new kind of medical education, one that trained doctors in the North, for the North.

More than twenty years later, Dr Yates has built a career defined by that same spirit of service. Now the Acting Chief Operating Officer at Townsville Hospital and Health Service and a specialist paediatric endocrinologist, he continues to live and work in North Queensland — and wouldn’t have it any other way.

“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.”

For Dr Yates, being able to offer highly specialised care close to home is more than a professional achievement — it’s a deeply personal mission. The ability to practise at a high level while remaining in North Queensland reflects the kind of opportunity JCU Medicine was designed to create.

“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’ connection to the region — and his commitment to improving health outcomes for its people — was nurtured during those early days at JCU.

“I reflect positively on my time at JCU for so many reasons … the faculty were amazing at making all of us feel like we belonged," he says.

That sense of belonging, mentorship, and family left a lasting impression.

"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.

A pivotal conversation in those early days helped shape his entire outlook on medicine.

"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."

Throughout his career, Dr Yates has championed regional training and service delivery. He was the first paediatric accredited basic trainee at Townsville Hospital and Health Service, completing much of his training locally before further specialising at Brisbane’s Royal and Mater Children’s Hospitals.

His career is a testament to what can be achieved when highly skilled professionals are empowered to stay and serve in their own communities.

As both a clinician and leader, Dr Yates continues to be involved in training the next generation of doctors. He credits JCU’s clinical model — and its early architects — with giving students the foundation they need to succeed.

"I've worked with students from several medical schools, and while some other cohorts are generally more mature, the JCU cohort are always far better clinically," he says. "That's testament to the curriculum designed prior to 2000 — it’s stood the test of time."

From a medical student in a brand-new program to a specialist and health executive shaping services for an entire region, Dr Jason Yates' story reflects the enduring impact of a medical school with a mission — and a doctor whose heart remains firmly in the North.