HEALTH educators hope continued practical experience at Bendigo Health during the COVID-19 crisis will lead students to return to regional and rural practice.
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Most Monash Rural Health Bendigo medical students have remained in Bendigo for clinical placements, despite the pandemic.
It came as many regional and metropolitan hospitals cancelled student placements.
Final year medical student Zakary Doherty was at a major tertiary hospital in Melbourne when his placement was cancelled.
Instead he was able to complete placement in the renal clinic at Bendigo Health.
Mr Doherty said he and his colleagues had felt really supported, and hoped to return to work in regional areas. He said many friends in the city had not had similar experiences.
He said working in a regional hospital felt more like being part of a big family - rather than a visitor.
Mr Doherty said the placement had put him in good stead for 2021.
"For many of us, we're only months away from being able to work as doctors. And that did at times make me worried about, 'Am I going to be ready? Will I have those skills I need?'," he said.
Monash Rural Health Bendigo director Associate Professor Chris Holmes said student feedback had been extremely positive about time spent in Bendigo.
Associate Professor Holmes said it was clear students felt supported, and recognised their peers in other hospitals had been significantly disadvantaged.
"Their intentions for the future reflect a very positive," he said.
"Their intentions for the future reflect a very positive intention to return to rural practice as a result in part of the experiences of they had."
Associate Professor said students had been helpful to medical staff, rather than a hindrance. He said it meant students had engaged with telehealth delivery.
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