Hawke’s Bay becomes home to six medical students

22 December 2010

Hawke’s Bay becomes home to six medical students

Hawke’s Bay is now home to six of Otago University’s final year medical students from the Wellington School of Medicine.

With the appointment of palliative care physician Carol McAllum to the role of Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies Hawke’s Bay District Health Board, six of the medical school’s trainee interns (final year medical students) will complete their entire final year of training in Hawke’s Bay; at the Hospital and in general practice. In addition another 13 medical students will also spend part of their final year working at Hawke’s Bay Hospital

Chief operating officer Warrick Frater said the combined efforts of the DHB and the University of Otago, Wellington have brought the teaching environment to a significant provincial New Zealand setting so students have more practical training and can transition themselves better from the world of theory into practical medicine.

Although the DHB already had a number of trainee interns at the hospital for six to 12 week clinical runs – the teaching campus both at Hawke’s Bay Hospital and out in general practice would mean students were here for a whole year -and the hope was it would attract other graduates to work here or for those students to stay on replenishing the work force, he said.

“We have wanted to do this for a number of years. The appointment of Dr McAllum and the first six full-time students who started in November gives us real impetus to beef up teaching skills and have a much greater link with the school of medicine.

“MidCentral DHB established a teaching school two years ago and Hawke’s Bay’s will be modelled on theirs – it’s great news for Hawke’s Bay as it raises the overall academic engagement on site and with staff and has the potential to attract students to stay on in Hawke’s Bay,” Mr Frater said.

Associate Dean Dr McAllum said it was a real plus for the DHB and a perfect marriage between the two organisations. It would provide much closer ties to the school of medicine as well as provide easier access to developing and supporting the most up-to-date medical research.

Chief executive Kevin Snee said it was another example of the DHB putting into action what it has talked about doing for a number of years

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed on Monday between Hawke’s Bay District Health Board chief executive Kevin Snee and the Dean and Head of Campus, University of Otago Wellington Professor Peter Crampton to officially recognise the new school.

ENDS