Dr Alyce Finch is a prevocational trainee with strong advocacy to improve the education, training and wellbeing of Junior Medical Officers in Rural and Regional NSW.
A Resident Medical Officer at Wagga Wagga Base Hospital, Dr Finch is the recipient of the prestigious NSW JMO of the Year Award in recognition of her substantial contributions to the education, support and mentoring of prevocational trainees at Wagga Base Hospital.
This year she coordinated the peer led content for JMO Orientation Week including ‘A Guide to Surviving Internship’ and ‘What to Expect on After Hours’ and created a pre-recorded version of these presentations for rotational metropolitan JMOs. She also collaborates with Term Supervisors, Registrars and the JMO Education Support Officer to update terms as well as attends the Nursing and Midwifery Management Committee meeting to discuss issues relevant to the JMO experience and to facilitate interdisciplinary communication.
Other initiatives attributed to Dr Finch include the instigation of Friday afternoon JMO handover short format clinical teaching sessions, advocating for protected Wednesday lunchtime JMO teaching, contributing to tutoring of peers, advocating to secure additional resources for educational purposes such as access to ultrasound machines and providing suggestions for ED rostering so JMOs are not missing out on educational opportunities.
Her peers note that she embodies and role models the values most important for work as a doctor. She is respectful and kind with all her interactions within and out of work and is a leader among her peers.
Dr Finch grew up in Wagga and trained and worked as a Registered Nurse in Sydney before going on to study medicine at the University of Notre Dame.
“I was working in management roles, as well as doing extra clinical shifts as a nurse. I wanted to get out of the city, and I wanted to do something incorporated both the leadership and the clinical side of patient care,” said Dr Finch.
“Studying medicine through Notre Dame meant I could move back to Wagga after I had completed my first two years of study, and I was lucky to get a JMO position here at Wagga Base so that I could stay.
“There’s an amazing culture here for junior doctors – it is a very supportive and positive environment and the investment from the consultants and registrars in supporting the junior doctors is something I don’t think you see everywhere. We soak it up and learn all we can from them.
“The Medical Administration Team here are also amazing and supportive – there are 60 junior medical officers but they treat us all as individuals to ensure we’re able to maintain our family and other personal commitments.”
Dr Christopher Mumme is the is the recipient of the prestigious Geoff Marel Award in recognition of his substantial contributions to the education, wellbeing and support of prevocational trainees, in WWBH.
Dr Mumme is the Director of Prevocational Education and Training (DPET) and an Anaesthetist at Wagga Wagga Base Hospital (WWBH).
In his role as DPET Dr Mumme has made a significant contribution to the education and teaching of JMOs at WWBH by ensuring there is a comprehensive teaching program in place for the JMOs. To support the challenges faced by rurally based JMOs in accessing external skills sessions Dr Mumme has facilitated and funded advanced skills training in ultrasound cannulation, Advanced Life Support, lumbar puncture and suturing.
Dr Mumme is a champion of JMO wellbeing and actively advocates for flexible and supportive training opportunities for JMOs. This includes the implementation of a psychological wellbeing program for prevocational doctors at WWBH over the last 3 years that encompasses regular cognitive behavioural therapy-based education sessions facilitated by a psychologist with a view to developing the psychological resilience of the prevocational JMO cohort at WWBH.
Junior doctors at WWBH note that Dr Mumme’s warmth and approachability has provided a safe pace for JMOs to raise concerns or suggestions that will be taken seriously and managed in a professional and timely manner.
Dr Mumme grew up in Sydney and came to Wagga to complete the final years of his undergraduate medical degree at the University of NSW Rural Clinical School. He completed his internship and residency at Wagga Wagga Base Hospital before going back to Sydney for his specialist training. He returned to Wagga as an anaesthetist seven years ago and took on the role of Director Education and Prevocational Training shortly after.
“We have a great team here in Wagga supporting our junior doctors, and a great culture where the JMO’s also look after each other and work together a big team.
“Recruiting junior doctors is a challenge, but we are doing well here – this year we had a full cohort.
“Of those completing their internship this year, more than 50 per cent are staying on – some have to move on to pursue different training programs, but the majority of those who wanted to stay have training positions here.”
Dr Finch and Dr Mumme will represent NSW in the Australia and New Zealand Prevocational Medical Education Forum awards in Darwin later this year.
