The Fresh fellows summit brings together rural generalists who have fellowed in the last 5 years to reconnect with peers, share experiences and build the skills and support they’ll need for the next stage of their careers.
Dr Michael McLaughlin (2024 summit attendee and 2025/2026 facilitator) and Dr Alistair Young (2025 summit attendee and 2026 facilitator) share their reflections on the summit and the positive impact it had on their professional and personal development.
Reflections
Michael: ‘Like any QRGP program or event it is always refreshing to meet and catch up with colleagues across the state. Within rural generalism we have such varied skills, and environments of work, with differences in acuity, setting and culture. It is always so wonderful to see the unifying mentality and training that the QRGP supports which creates doctors who work at top-of-scope practice in complex environments with flexibility and humility. It’s so great to see there is a generation of RGs who are considering things like work/life balance, career longevity, leadership, and reflection at early points in their career’.
and Dr Jack De Guingand
Alistair: ‘The take-away from the summit for me were a renewed feeling of energy and optimism about the impact rural generalists can make in our communities, and the possibilities for career progression and fulfilment. This opportunity to engage both professionally and on a personal level with this community of doctors, share ideas and feel connected is one of the highlights of my professional development calendar’.
Lasting impressions
Michael: ‘I find it refreshing for RGs to be so willing to have a go at something that might not be their day-to-day practice, and the discussions around discomfort with uncertainty and how to deal with the parts of medicine that you might not always be comfortable with but have to face. The ideal of clinical courage and providing care that is needed for the community, not just what you “like doing”. I also really appreciate the variety in which RGs practice in Queensland from Aboriginal Medical Services (AMS), primary care, to quite high acuity settings all with the same base skills of primary care, flexibility and generalism’.
Alistair: ‘There were many valuable sessions as a participant that have been instrumental in guiding me through the transition to becoming a senior clinician. The sessions encouraging participants to develop both short- and longer-term reflective practice and well-being skills have been crucial in managing the uncertainty and doubt that many of us will experience during this career stage. The challenging mental health simulation (made very realistic by the incredible acting of the simulation team) was great practice for the very real-world situations we find ourselves managing. In general, the strength of this summit is the breadth of topics and skills covered combined with the accumulated shared experience in the room - there is something to take away from every session’.
Value
Michael: ‘As a registrar and medical trainee sometimes you have been studying or working towards this end point for such a long time; from undergrad, med school, prevocational years and then your registrar years it feels like fellowship is the end of this massive journey. In reality, it’s just the beginning of a career that can grow and develop multiple times over. I think taking opportunities to pause and reflect are really important to both appreciate all that has been achieved but also question what you want to do in the future, how you want to continue to develop your skills and what you want to achieve professionally and personally. What I love about the summit is that it’s about professional development and reflection, but it doesn't exclude those other essential parts of your life like family and interests. It shows how being an RG is a part of your life but the skills and attributes you gain can help you across other parts as well. The QRGP treats you as a whole person including your family and community, not just a clinician or service provider.
I highly recommend this program for anyone who has recently fellowed. It is a great initiative from the QRGP and reflects how the organisation has grown and changed with the cohort of RGs it has been producing. I look forward to the “Crusty Old Fellows” program in the future’.
Alistair: ‘The Fresh fellows summit provided me with foundational skills and connected me with a community of doctors that enables transition to a career-stage that is both challenging and rewarding. Professional and personal connections with colleagues from the summit have proven to be priceless many times over the last 18 months. The difference between this workshop and others is the strong sense of shared experience, challenges and common goals for all participants given the similar career standpoint we are all at. I regularly recommend the summit to colleagues without hesitation’.