Tablelands Clinical School now training students
July 2010
The JMP received $5.5 million dollars in Commonwealth funding, awarded under the Rural Education Infrastructure Development (REID) program to construct and fit out the Tablelands Clinical School and develop a training practice building in consultation with the New England Division of General Practice and GP Synergy.
The Tablelands Clinical School is integral to the JMP's vision to develop the future rural health workforce while providing clinical services to the community, including much-needed mental health services.
The School works cooperatively with Staff Specialists and Visiting Medical Officers from Hunter New England Health as well as rural General Practitioners. These clinicians provide an improvement in the health workforce in the region and are talented teachers and role models for our students."
"It will create a professional environment with teaching clinics for JMP students to obtain broader experience in diagnosis, treatment and prevention of illness," said Dr Maree Puxty, the Clinical Dean of the Tablelands Clinical School.
"It offers a greater range of clinical experiences by allowing students to be exposed to health problems seen by GPs and those referred to the hospital."
In 2011 the Clinical School will take its first students. These five students will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in rural health practice and experience a rural lifestyle over a prolonged period of time.
"This is a great chance for students to discover the tremendous capacity rural centres have to provide a rewarding medical career and hopefully increase the likelihood of their return to a rural area following postgraduate training."
