The Limestone Coast Regional Training Hub recently supported one of our regional GPs, Dr Claire Thompson, to attend the 2023 World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA) conference held in Sydney.

No stranger to rural life, Dr Thompson was born in Millicent, attended school in both Millicent and Mt Gambier prior to studying medicine and completing her general practice training in Adelaide. She has served her community as part of the Millicent Medical Clinic since 1999.

Dr Thomson appreciated the support to attend WONCA and said:

“I wanted to say how much I enjoyed, and benefited from, attending WONCA23.

I found the conference interesting, educational and uplifting.  I attended various presentations and lectures, as well as social activities.  Fantastic to connect with so many wonderful family doctors.

It was fascinating to be updated on some of the research in general practice, and to hear the direction of family medicine from a number of other countries.

Some of the sessions will impact directly on my day to day practice.  I attended a workshop focusing on giving feedback to learners, which gave me some useful tips that I can apply to my involvement with students.  I have already changed my approach to monitoring blood pressure in the clinic.”

In 2024, Claire Will become further immersed in rural health as a GP supervisor of MDRS students in the Greater Green Triangle region.

We look forward to Dr Thompson joining Flinders Rural and Remote Health and being part of training our future rural medical workforce.