Its been so busy "settling in", and we've only had very slow dial up the last two weeks, so I'm only going to catch up the news this week, and will blog later on about Broome and Derby..

In a nutshell, we spent last week in Derby, moving into the house, getting unpacked, and orienting to the community and the Derby Aboriginal Health Service, (DAHS). Then we flew here to Kalgoorlie (2300 km south of Derby) last Saturday.

This week, I've been helping (and participating in) Student Orientation for the Rural Clinical School, the other 1/2 of my job in Derby.

Sunday was Site Coordinator's meeting. I am the RCS Site Coordinator for Derby, which means I am responsible for supervising the education of three 5th-year medical students who will live and study in Derby for the next year. In the Australian system, students start at age 17-19 usually at University, in this case, the University of Western Australia in Perth. Completion of the MBBS (Bachelors of Medicine and Bachelors of Surgery) degree takes 6 years. They begin clinical experiences in the hospital in the 4th year, with basic skills on the medical and surgical wards, and in the 5th year, they are expected to obtain proficiency as well-rounded
doctors, with an emphasis on outpatient and inpatient GP, Internal Medicine, Paediatrics, and Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Our students have just returned from summer break and are beginning their 5th year. We have 62 students in the RCS; 3 will come to Derby, other sites have from 3 to 10. All students are provided furnished housing, a living stipend, mobile phone and transportation of themselves, their car and personal belongings to the site.

This week we began Monday with a curriculum review and general instructions on how to be an RCS learner. The students are responsible for their own learning and are to obtain it from many clinical sources such as hospital physicians, office nurses, Aboriginal Health Workers, midwives, and community allied health persons. They log their cases online and learn medicine case by case. There is an overall list of topics they need to cover, monthly learning focuses,
and didactics every week. However, the RCS models the way mature physicians learn and keep up in practice from the get go. Monday night was a dressy Cocktail party at the racetrack to meet everyone.

Tuesday was devoted to 6 skill sessions: Adult and Pediatric Resuscitation, Airway Management, C-Spine care, Suturing, and Casting. I was out in the 40 degree C. heat all day- good thing I brought my hat, sunscreen and water bottle. We were on the lawn in the shade, and there was a nice HOT breeze. (This is just good for physiological acclimation for me to the hot weather.) In the evening there was a picnic in the park, with Aboriginal dancers and orientation to cross-cultural medicine. Several of us left a bit early to go comet-watching (see photo). Comet McNaught is absolutely spectacular here in the dry, desert climate.

Today we had a Disaster Drill at the RFDS base, followed by a swim, and an afternoon of discussion of doctor-patient relationships. And this evening, supper was out in the open air at the student housing, followed by charades and games (a la "Who's Line Is It Anyway?").

Tomorrow we have a 1/2 day of student performances, then they get back on the train to Perth. I plan to get a haircut here (havn't found a barber in Derby so
far), and poke around town a bit. We fly back home to Derby on Friday, Australia Day.

This has been a great week. The other Site Coordinators are committed, bright, interesting people from a wide variety of backgrounds. And the students are as eager as puppies to explore their new learning sites. I have made a lot of new friends and everyone has been helpful and concerned about us. Vicki has had a nice break too after a hot week of house organization. She's enjoyed the museum, shopped a bit, and got her hair done. But best of all she's been able to meet the people I work with and experience the students along with me.

You can see the Kalgoorie Album here: