Season one of Rural Health – Real Conversations has offered a powerful insight into the people, pathways and places shaping rural and remote health in South Australia.
Hosted by Elspeth Radford, the six-part series has taken listeners from remote airstrips to regional hospitals, from first-year lecture theatres to long-established rural practices. Across every episode, one message has remained clear: rural medicine is defined as much by community, connection and purpose as it is by clinical skill.
Building a rural medical future
The series opened with Associate Professor James Padley, Program Lead of the South Australia Rural Medical (SARM) Program. James reflected on his journey from the Royal Flying Doctor Service to leading South Australia’s first end-to-end rural medical degree. His episode set the tone for the season, highlighting the importance of training doctors close to home and challenging outdated perceptions of rural practice.
Learning, belonging and hands-on experience
Doctor of Medicine student Catherine Southam shared how growing up on a Port Lincoln farm shaped her commitment to rural medicine. Now based in Mount Gambier after completing her MDRS placement in Naracoorte, Catherine spoke about the unmatched hands-on learning offered by small rural teams and the sense of belonging that comes with being part of a close-knit workforce.
That sense of place and connection was echoed by Dr Patrick Burgon, Senior Lecturer in Foundational Sciences at Flinders’ Mount Gambier campus. After decades working internationally, Patrick returned to rural South Australia to help build a world-class medical program with a regional focus, showing that exceptional education does not need to be city-based.
Rural roots and giving back
Third-year medical student Riley Perry offered a grounded perspective shaped by his upbringing on the Fleurieu Peninsula. Completing his clinical year in Goolwa, Riley reflected on the value of staying close to community, the impact of one-on-one mentorship, and how rural programs support students to give back to the places that raised them.
Rural generalism in practice
Episode five features first-year SARM student Johanna Palenschus, whose transition from a successful legal career to medicine in the Riverland captures the courage, resilience and sense of possibility that define the program. Jo’s story highlights the supportive nature of rural medical education and the opportunities available to students from diverse professional and personal backgrounds.
Experience and continuity
Episode six, the Season 1 finale, spotlights Dr James McLeod, Riverland GP and the inaugural RACGP Rural Generalist of the Year. James offers an honest insight into the breadth of rural general practice, spanning emergency care, chronic disease management, teaching and community life. His reflections reinforce the vital role of continuity of care and early rural exposure in building a sustainable rural workforce.
Looking ahead
Together, these stories paint a compelling picture of rural health as dynamic, rewarding and deeply connected to place. Rural Health – Real Conversations celebrates not only careers in medicine, but the communities, educators and students working together to shape the future of healthcare across regional and remote South Australia.
All episodes from Season 1 are now available on Spotify. We invite you to explore the series, share it with colleagues and students, and join the conversation about what rural health can be.