How do you know if you really want to get into obstetrics and gynaecology? Good experiences all along the way helped Dr Robin Thurman make up her mind to apply for the program.
"I did my internship at Ballarat and a rotation to GeelongHospital gave me my first experience of working with obstetrics,'' she says. "Then I did an unaccredited year at The Mercy Hospital for Women, a Diploma of Obstetrics, which is probably the most common way of getting into the program.
It's so important to ensure you're making the right decision for your future. It is prudent for any doctor planning to work in any specialty to try working in it first.''
During that year, there were several others doing the Dip Obstetrics, some doctors getting experience for working in emergency departments and GPs doing a specialist year. The teaching and experience gave them an excellent skills set.
Last February, Dr Thurman began her Integrated Training Program where she is training in all types of deliveries including surgical and early pregnancy assessment. Later she will train under skilled surgeons in gynaecological oncology and the many special cases The Mercy takes in. "It's an extremely rewarding and satisfying area of medicine,'' she says. "Giving birth is one of those rare moments in your life that you'll always remember so it's a pleasure for me to be there during labour and delivery. Mostly outcomes are good but when they're bad, our senior consultants help them work through it.''
The Mercy is a very supportive hospital with an excellent teaching program and hands-on training lists so that senior consultants are always there to help. ``They are a very closeknit group of training doctors,'' says Dr Thurman. ``I always feel I can ask more senior people _ registrars or consultants _ for advice and guidance.''
Dr Lenore Ellett is half way through O and G training at The Mercy but her journey has been much longer. Having begun training at The Alfred she went to work on a Mission in Tanzania.
"I worked in the orphanage, but the delivery theatre in the hospital was fairly primitive so I kept flies away during caesareans,'' she says."I knew by then that I wanted to work either with obstetrics or paediatrics.''
Dr Ellett went to the Royal Children's Hospital for a year, did a Dip Obstetrics at The Mercy, went on to GP training and took all her knowledge and background to the people of Wodonga. There she was mentored and encouraged by Dr Pieter Mourak into training as a obstetrician.
"I love the instant gratification of it, delivering a new baby,'' she says. ``I also enjoy the operating theatre. After having come this far I would like to become a general obstetrician and gynaecologist _ doing a bit of everything.''
Dr Ellett has now had her own baby and believes this helps when she is talking to pregnant women.
