Last Saturday the Riverland Academy of Clinical Excellence (RACE), brainchild of Dr Paul Worley celebrated one year of intern and post graduate years medical training in the Riverland with 25 years of Flinders University medical training (PRCC and MD Rural Stream) at the Renmark campus.
The Master of ceremonies for the day, Emeritus Professor Paul Worley, is Executive Director of Clinical Innovation at the Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network and Medical Director for the Regional Clinical Trials Coordinating Centres in South Australia and the Northern Territory, was the inaugural National Rural Health Commissioner and a former Dean of the School of Medicine at Flinders University.
The symposium was held in Berri with speakers from across South Australia and the globe including:
- Dr David Hirsch, Director Harvard Medical School Medical Education
- Pamela Stagg, founding staff member of the PRCC in Renmark
- Dr James Padley, involved in clinical education for many years, including coordinating the PRCC at Flinders University between 2018 and 2020, and more recently as a rural academic and career mentor at the University of Adelaide.
- Dr Vivian Isaac, mental health epidemiologist, academic and a clinical social worker, currently supporting the Rural Health Research Program within Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute
- Professor Lambert Schuwirth, Chair Prideaux Discipline of Clinical Education, Flinders University
- Dr Ken Wanguhu, Waikerie GP, clinical educator and advocate and staunch supporter of rural and remote generalist health services in the region.
- Professor David Prideaux, Emeritus Professor of Medical Education in the Prideaux Discipline of Clinical Education in the College of Medicine and Public Health at Flinders University.
- Dr Shannon Nott, Rural Director of Medical Services for Western New South Wales (NSW) Local Health District in Australia.
- Dr Courtney Ryder, Discipline Lead for Injury Studies in the College of Medicine and Public Health at Flinders University.
- Professor Ian Couper, Director Ukwanda Centre for Rural Health, and Professor of Rural Health, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch University, South Africa.
The day was informative and allowed for interaction and networking.
The evening celebration of 25 years of medical training was unfortunately cancelled as a storm hit Berri just after the last presentation and the town lost power but all attendees agreed that the event was a great success.