Dr Wendy Sexton

What did your training pathway look like from medical school graduation to rural generalist fellowship?

I always wanted to work as a rural generalist before the term became popular. My aspirations on commencing medical school were that I wanted the flexibility to work in rural and remote Australia as well as spend time volunteering in the global health space. Despite a fairly non-linear postgraduate path, that's exactly what I do now – and I love it!

After medical school I completed three years in Perth. I particularly enjoyed my PGY2 year, when I spent a few terms in the Community Residency Program. A term with Silver Chain Palliative Care left me knowing I would come back to the specialty one day. I also spent a couple of terms in the Pilbara at the old Nickol Bay Hospital in Karratha, which was great fun and a chance to really see what rural generalist medicine was all about. I completed my DRANZCOG and time in paediatrics before commencing my GP training initially in Perth, and then in Geraldton. I was able to do a bit of everything there - procedural obstetrics, general practice, Aboriginal Medical Service work, emergency medicine - and while I got very little sleep, I certainly gained a huge amount of experience. I then worked as a locum rural generalist for seven years around Australia and had simply the best time in some pretty amazing places. Now, more than 10 years later, I find myself as a DMO in the Pilbara at Hedland Health Campus working in emergency medicine and palliative care, as well as volunteering overseas regularly. The skills of a rural generalist are wonderfully versatile in global health settings. It all makes sense in retrospect.

What aspect of your personality suits being a rural generalist with your advanced skills?

While emergency medicine and palliative care seem to be quite different in their pace and style, they allow me to channel a different way of interacting with patients and families. I like the buzz of the Emergency Department and the collaboration with my colleagues, as well as the one-off encounters with patients. Palliative care ticks the boxes I like for comprehensive person-centred care that includes their families and touches on everything that is important to them over the course of days, weeks, months, and sometimes years. I have worked with some incredible colleagues and get the chance to hone my communication skills daily. Visiting patients in their home is a privilege, as is caring for them and allowing them to live their best lives right to the end.

What are the hours like working as a rural generalist?

Generally pretty good. My interest in palliative care means that I do ad hoc on-calls for patients dying in the community to support the nursing staff who are usually the ones in the home. Otherwise working in the Emergency Department means shift work; 10-hour shifts seeing whatever comes through the door. I usually compress my roster to allow flexibility to have a run of days off, and this works well for me.

What is your favourite thing about the region you live in?

Winter is magical in the Pilbara. It's time to spend outdoors - whether visiting the Dampier Archipelago, camping, marvelling at how incredible Karijini is, or just watching the ships go by with a coffee in Port Hedland. I also enjoy walking along our coastline at any time of year, and especially love seeing our olive flatback turtle hatchlings!

What does a rural generalist eat for lunch?

I try to be organised enough to have a delicious salad with all sorts of goodies, and I usually make enough for a few days so I can grab and go.  Everyone always comments on my salads – they are good! It also gets a few serves of vegetables in and avoids the 3pm energy slump.

Photo: Dr Wendy Sexton