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 early years in Perth, including memorable rotations in palliative care and the Pilbara, I completed my DRANZCOG, paediatrics, and GP training in Perth and Geraldton. Geraldton gave me the chance to do a bit of everything: procedural obstetrics, general practice, Aboriginal Medical Service work, and emergency medicine. Sleep was scarce, but the experience was invaluable.
For the next seven years, I worked as a locum rural generalist across Australia, enjoying some incredible places and experiences. Now, more than a decade later, I’m back in the Pilbara as a DMO at Hedland Health Campus, working in both emergency medicine and palliative care, while continuing regular overseas volunteering. The versatility of rural generalist skills translates beautifully into global health work. Looking back, it all fits together.
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