mmg.com.au

Doctor Claire Goodman has been awarded for her work in attracting doctors to practice in rural areas.

Dr Goodman was named University of Melbourne rural clinical school Extended Rural Cohort clinical supervisor of the year.

The GP at Echuca-Moama Family Medical Practice helps supervise students who are part of the ERC program, which is an initiative of the University of Melbourne and Monash University. The program, which ran in full for the first time last year, involves students spending 12 months of their medical degree in a rural area, dividing their time between GP clinics and Echuca hospital.

The award was presented by University of Melbourne’s Rural Health Academic Centre chair Professor Julian Wright.

Professor Wright said Dr Goodman’s students, who nominated her for the award, described her as ‘fantastic’, ‘enthusiastic’ and a ‘great role model’ with a ‘hilarious sense of humour’.

‘‘As well as being a really good educator, she has clearly demonstrated to the students the importance of a really good professionalism and great attributes of how doctors should be,’’ he said.

Dr Goodman said she was honoured and humbled by the award.

‘‘I’ve really enjoyed supervising the students we’ve had so far. It’s nice to see them develop in the time they’re here and become more confident in their skills and in the way they deal with patients,’’ she said.

‘‘We are very keen to provide students with a positive rural medicine experience, in the hope that some might consider a career in the country in the future.’’