Dear Colleagues,

Last month I highlighted the Student Experience Survey (SES) results that show significant improvements in the overall quality of educational experience, teaching quality and student support in the Flinders medical program. I would like to thank Professor Rosalie Grivell for leading the MD to this point, and share that Rosalie will be leaving the MD to pursue opportunities outside of the university sector.

Rosalie is a graduate of the Flinders Medical Program. Since 2016, she has worked at SALHN as an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist. In her role as the Discipline Lead of Women’s and Children’s health, she transformed the women’s health medical student teaching program and elevated women’s health research within SALHN.

Rosalie became the Director of the MD Program in March 2020, facing immense challenges which were further complicated by the Covid-19 global pandemic. Rosalie’s unwavering leadership and commitment provided much needed stability and structure for the course, re-establishing sound governance, working closely with professional staff, academics, clinicians and students. Her consistency, focus, level-headedness and ability to strengthen health service partnerships, and make some very difficult decisions during the pandemic, is admirable.

One of Rosalie’s unsung, early successes was to ensure continuity of clinical placements for MD students through the Covid-19 pandemic. This occurred without pause to our program – a feat unmatched by any other medical program in Australia in 2020!

Without a doubt, Rosalie has rejuvenated our medical program. Both qualitative and quantitative measures bear this out. But for me, what is even more remarkable is that she has achieved this in the space of just two years and under unprecedented and immense external challenges. Rosalie always maintained a collaborative approach, her door was always open and she always found time for colleagues and students.

As the MD Deputy Director, I have had the honour and pleasure of working with Rosalie over the last two years, witnessing first hand her consummate professionalism, integrity, strong leadership and unwavering commitment to medical education and student wellbeing. I have taken many examples from her leadership to learn and develop from. I would personally, and on behalf of all our MD community, thank Rosalie for her contributions over the last two and a half years, and I wish her all the best for the future.

Regards,
Michal

Dr Michal Wozniak
MBBS FRACGP
Acting Director, Medical Program (MD)
Flinders University