AMSA Global Health Conference - Rural Australia Medical ...ramus.ruralhealth.org.au/sites/default/files/AMSA_Global...anticipated for as we slept in swags under the stars on the Great

Reports submitted by RAMUS scholars and Alumni who attended this conference with support from the RAMUS Conference Placement Program

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AMSA Global Health Conference 2009, Brisbane QLD, 2 – 5 July 2009

Conference reports added 31 August 2009

Dennis Millard .................................................................................................................... 2

Kate Sounness ..................................................................................................................... 5

Conference reports added 4 November 2009

Mariana Dorkham ............................................................................................................... 7

Caitlin Growden ................................................................................................................ 10


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Dennis Millard

AMSA Global Health Conference 2009 – Dennis Millard, UWA 6th yr

After receiving approval for funding to attend the GHC 09 in Brisbane from

June 2nd – 5th 2009 through the RAMUS Conference Placement Program I

elected for a more abstract method of covering the 4500km journey from

Perth. I spoke to a friend who was planning on moving to Sydney and

suggested we should make an inaugural attempt at the Nullabor.

Being only one week before the conference began we had little time to

prepare for the four-day mission through outback Australia.

As I am currently in my final year of medicine and

have been trying to decide where my medical

future lies I remembered a rough plan I made with a

college last year to start up a rural general practice

in coastal NSW. I saw this conference as not only a

great opportunity to network with other likeminded

students and be informed on a great range of issues

covered in the conference, but also as an opportunity to explore more of rural

NSW in a bid to find the ideal place for me to work in my future.

The journey itself taught me a lot more than I

anticipated for as we slept in swags under the stars

on the Great Australian Bight, ran out of fuel in Port

Argo (I befriended some locals in the pub who

filled us up with a jerry can), got bogged in some

wet red mud at Tilpa (half way between Wilcannia

and Bourke in western

NSW), went surfing in Yamba and Cresent Head, then

visited almost every town in coastal NSW. Through

this reconnaissance mission I have found several

areas where I could see myself setting up a rural GP

practice, one in particular where the current GP is

nearing retirement age.

Other than using this conference and my two weeks of holidays as a recon

mission I also attended a very informative and somewhat inspiring

conference. Some of the highlights were the Dr Sujit’s third world medicine

lectures, a NTGP training seminar presented by a Northern Territory GP Dr


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Glynis Johns, numerous Aboriginal health lectures, a disaster response

workshop and a ‘close the gap’ presentation by Oxfam. On top of these

lectures there was also a lot of interaction with other colleagues who share

similar medical aspirations to myself and some really useful information

sessions provided by various medical organizations such as NTGPE, RACGP,

AGPT, Health Super and Avant medical insurance group.

Dr Sujit is a doctor from India who has spent his life acting as the MD for the

work of Mother Teresa. He presented for around three hours on a range of

issues and challenges that are often faced by clinicians in the third world. He

detailed a range of different health issues as well as the best methods

available to help combat them and summarised his presentation with the

conclusion that education is the cornerstone of

health in all populations and without educating

the people their health will never independently

rectify.

I found this a particularly interesting

presentation having performed two separate six-

week overseas medical electives in third world

countries, and having an interest in practicing in

underprivileged countries as part of my medical career. He also shared his

contact details with us all and offered us to volunteer in his Calcutta clinics in

the future.

The disaster response workshop was presented by Dr David Ward, who has

spent a significant part of his career working with the Australian army in

peacekeeping missions and other humanitarian works. This was a very useful

refresher for me as I have just completed my emergency medicine rotation

and taught us a little about different management techniques for disaster

situations.

The ‘close the gap’ lecture was also very informative in terms of facts and

figures pertaining to Aboriginal health outcomes compared to that of non

Aboriginal Australians. Perhaps the most impressive feature of this

presentation was the huge number of students at the end of the session

(myself included) signing a pledge of commitment to closing the gap in

Aboriginal health outcomes.

Another very interesting speaker was Dr Glynis Johns, a Sydney GP who has

been practicing in remote areas of the Northern Territory for the last 6years.


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Her one hour presentation detailed the life of a NTGP and made it sound

extremely attractive as a career path. She also gave us some useful

information in regards to PGY2 GP training in remote areas of the NT. I found

this really useful personally as it can be extremely difficult to find information

in regards to different training programs and who to approach in regards to

gaining entry to them.

This leads me onto another positive from the conference being the stalls there

from the NTGPE, RACGP and AGPT. I spent a significant amount of time

talking to the representatives in each of these stalls and took home some

really useful brochures from them in regards to potential career options and

how to best go about them.

There were many other very informative sessions held during this conference

however the main conclusions from my attendance include the following three

major aspirations or goals. One which was further enforced was the amazing

capacity for doctors to perform humanitarian work in underprivileged

populations, being something I aim to do both within and outside of Australia

in my future. Another is the huge importance of Aboriginal health and

increasing my exposure to this in an effort to help ‘close the gap’ in my future.

In my intern year next year I have applied to perform two ten-week rotations

in the Kimberley of WA in general medicine and general surgery which will

help achieve this goal. The third aspiration I have gained is not only from my

attendance at the conference but also as a result of my travels pre and post

conference around rural NSW. This is that I would really like to spend a

significant amount of my future practicing in rural NSW, whether during my

training or upon its completion. I believe this conference has been a very

good use of time and resources and would recommend attending conferences

through the RAMUS Conference Placement Program to any of my peers,

particularly those in the later years of their studies.


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Kate Sounness

The 2009 Global Health Conference was a meeting of 400 Australian medical students

and under the theme of ‘Challenge Your World’ was an opportunity to be made more

aware of developing world and indigenous health issues, learn about opportunities to

work in the field and meet with similar minded students.

I attended the conference in order to learn how I might be able to work in this field

during my career and was particularly challenged by doctors who had worked in

developing nations especially during wars, famines and genocides. Whilst this work was

inspiring, challenging and earned them acclaim and prestige we were reminded that if we

are considering a job in this field to determine where we might be most useful in our

profession. It may turn out that this is not necessarily as a trauma surgeon in a war

zone but instead could be a GP working in remote communities in Australia to address

primary health. We were challenged to consider what ‘making a difference’ really

means. The speakers at the conference came from a wide range of fields, highlighting the

diversity of backgrounds of people working in developing countries and the

opportunities from nearly every speciality and career path. Some of these included Ian

Frazer who is working to reach developing nations with the cervical cancer vaccine

The conference also focused on the comparison of sustainable development versus

acute humanitarian aid. Whilst there is a place for both in the developing world, the

delegates were challenged to consider the sustainable options in health provision. Gabi

Hollows, wife of the late Dr Fred Hollows spoke about the Fred Hollows Foundation in

order to provide intraocular lenses at a price viable for developing nations, factories

were opened in Eritrea and Nepal. They employ local people to manufacture the lenses

and sourced all materials required for the project within the developing nations. The

success of this project has ensured long term sustainable health provision and

development whilst return sight to over 1 million people since the programs inception

in 1992.

The 2009 Global Health Conference is a fantastic opportunity for medical students in

promoting awareness

a conference report (750-1,000 words) evaluating all aspects of attendance at the

conference with comments on each of the selection criteria and on how the knowledge

acquired from the conference will be applied professionally; and


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In the past year I have completed my 5th year MBBS in a rural location; Albany Western

Australia, as part of the Rural Clinical School, spent a rural elective at Broome Regional

Aboriginal Medical Service and undergone an overseas elective in rural South Africa.

These experiences have further developed my interest for working in rural and remote

health. However, I am yet to work out how I may be most effective in the role as a rural

doctor, about the ongoing issues of working in rural/remote areas and about combining

the provision of health care with research and development to improve the long term

health outcomes of these communities. The academic program of the conference will

focus on topics such as 'Human Rights and Marginalised Populations', 'Indigenous

Health' and 'Primary Health Care' which I hope will give me insight into issues affecting

rural and remote health in Australia as well as developing nations. I am particularly

interested in a career in maternal and child health, so will be particularly interested in the

workshop that will be held on the subject during the conference. There will also be a

number of speakers at the conference who have extensive knowledge and experience in

rural and remote health. Speakers include Prof Bart Currie 'The challenges of infectious

disease in the tropic north' and Dr Glynis Johns 'Life as an NT Remote Area GP". These

speakers have not only worked in rural areas but also investigated ways to improve the

health of their community through research and development of health programs.

Finally, I am looking forward to meeting other medical students interested in developing

world and rural and remote health to discuss ideas and strategies with them.

By attending the conference I hope to learn about the organisations and community

development projects that are currently in place in rural and remote areas of Australia and

developing nations, about what still needs to be done and the current priorities in these

areas. I am keen to learn about effective strategies in health promotion and prevention in

rural and remote areas. I am also particularly interested in the workshop on 'Cross

Cultural Communication' in enabling me to effectively work with and better understand

the culture and its impact on the health of Indigenous people.


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Mariana Dorkham

RAMUS Conference Placement Program – Conference Report

AMSA Global Health Conference 2009 Mariana Dorkham – 2

nd Year UWA

Attending AMSA’s Global Health Conference in July this year has been, in short, a very

valuable and rewarding experience. From what I learned, to the stories I heard, and to

understanding what my capacity is for eliciting change in world – GHC ticked all the

boxes and more.

The initial impression a conference like this gives you is overwhelming. There were 400

likeminded students gathered together seeking information and inspiration; and a

direction of where to start. The conference, convened at the University of Queensland,

started on a high with an enthused, lively man, Dr Sujit Brahmochary, sharing with us

how, as a humble medical student, his idea of bringing better health to remote parts of his

native India came to fruition with what is now known as the Institute for Indian Mother

and Child. He would continuously refer to the simplicity of how it all came about –

‘slowly, slowly’ he would often remark. The skills he had were enough to begin changing

the lives of those that suffered from ‘simple’ highly preventable diseases – that is all he

could offer, so he did just that; the finances and infrastructure would follow to enable

more good work to be done.

Countless interesting talks would then progress, filling the four days of conference. We

were informed about the progress of the UN’s Millennium Development Goals, how

steps were taken to Make Poverty History, the reality of the effects of the Global

Financial Crisis in developing countries and how this escalated the Global Food Crisis,

the task forces dealing with the HIV/AIDS epidemic, women and children’s health and

the prospect of change, what the responsibility of the Australian Government was in

terms of providing aid, the effects of climate change…and the topics go on, each highly

engaging and enlightening. A common theme throughout, apart from the obvious ‘global

health’ banner, was that they could all pertain to a grassroots level and every issue

suddenly directly concerned those of us in the room.

A particular talk that struck me was in relation to Indigenous health, given by Tania

Major – an Indigenous youth advocate. Indigenous health is such a major problem in

Australia and has often been labelled ‘the 3rd

world in our backyard’. As students we are

aware of the problem but I am never quite sure that we appreciate the problem – which

can be understandable when you see the pages of statistics that are drummed into us.

Close the Gap is a great step forward, however, also seems far away from what we do


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and what we can do. Tania, for me, brought the reality of the situation and how I am

affected, to light. It is not something that is solely the government’s problem or

responsibility; it is our community where these inequalities are occurring, with our fellow

Australians. During Tania’s talk was the first instance that I felt able to do something.

This semester I have got together with some fellow likeminded students and have begun

brainstorming actions that we can do to improve our understanding of Indigenous issues

and get involved with Indigenous peers. The initial hope is to get in touch with a local

Aboriginal Health Worker training centre and establish a forum for communication and

partnership with that centre. This initiative is only in its very early days, but hopefully it

can make some ground over the coming year. This is just one example of how GHC has

added to my personal and professional development and how by attending the conference

I may feel empowered to apply my experience there in a positive light.

The ‘Challenge Your World’ theme of GHC was very fitting and the conference achieved

just that. In learning about an array of local and global issues, the realities of such issues

indeed did ‘challenge my world’, in the context of my ideas and perceptions. However,

the empowerment and understanding gained from such a conference does inevitably give

me the opportunity to go out and ‘challenge my world’ – the world around me and

beyond – to do what I can to make a change.

Throughout the conference it really struck me as to how much there is to be done to see a

better world. Even more so, it emphasised that, although there is great need in places like

Africa and South-East Asia, we still have a lot to deal with here in Australia. In all

senses, it did strengthen and encourage a choice in career that would provide the

challenge – whether internationally or in our own remote Australia. The knowledge that

my current training at university is equipping me with the skills to enable me to make a

difference to an individual’s disadvantaged life and even to a community is, if anything, a

great motivator for my studies and certainly highlights future prospects.

There is no doubt that GHC has exponentially broadened my professional knowledge. I

even had the opportunity to take part in a simulation of triage and disaster response

coordination, as well as to learn about tropical disease (a subject not yet covered in my

studies and probably not emphasised greatly living in the southwest of Western

Australia!), all very practical elements of the conference. The talks and these workshops

added to a greater perception of situations we could come across and heightened

understanding of the obstacles that remote communities face – namely availability and

delivery of essential supplies in times of great need. As delegates to the conference, we

were able to play an active part in our exploration of the issues which heightened our

education and really made us visualise our prospects, not only in that particular situation

of disaster, but also in our future.


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Last, but not least, I cannot fail to mention the incredible forum that GHC created for the

exchange of ideas and networking with students from every medical school in Australia

and the incredible professionals that shared with us their stories and expertise. I was able

to learn about what opportunities other medical students were undertaking to further their

involvement with the issues – for example, lobbying Kevin Rudd to increase Australia’s

aid to the promised 0.7% GNP – and make contacts for possible further initiatives and

experiences.

All in all, AMSA’s Global Health Conference was an extremely rewarding experience

that fulfilled every goal and more. It gave me depth of knowledge, motivation for a

challenging career and an opportunity for networking. I regard the conference as a real

platform for where I want to go and how I want to go about life as a medical student and

as a future doctor. I realise the great opportunity to exercise change that I have before me

and the issues are only as insurmountable as I make them.


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Caitlin Growden

Global Health Conference 2009

Caitlin Growden

The conference kicked off with registration on Thursday morning on 2 July. We listened to

welcoming speeches setting the scene for what was to come in the next three days. The first

guest speaker was Dr Sujit and what an amazing way to start what was to be an amazing and

inspirational conference. Dr Sujit studied medicine at the medical school in Calcutta. Upon

graduating he moved to Belgium to study paediatrics medicine. After some time teaching and

studying there he decided to return home where he felt he could accomplish more by helping

the underprivileged. His story began with a van, very little money or supports, travelling around

to the poorest surrounding areas of Calcutta giving health care to those most in need. This grew

to the foundation of the Institute of Indian Mother and Child which facilitates the medical,

educational and economical development in some of the most poverty stricken rural areas.

Another speaker who especially stood out for me on Thursday was Dr Dan Murphy. He had one

of the most amazing life stories I have ever heard. While studying medicine he was enlisted to

fight in the Vietnam War, he refused. After completing his degree he spent six years working at

a clinic for farm workers where he was involved in instigating legislation against pesticide abuse.

Dr Murphy talked of his desire to help change the USA, to be involved in a revolution. After

becoming disillusioned with the politics of the USA Dr Murphy worked in Mozambique, Laos and

Nicaragua. In 1998 Dr Murphy began working in East Timor, later that year he was forced out of

the country by the Indonesian government, only to return in 1999 where he still provides health

care at the Bario Pite clinic. It was inspiring to listen to Dr Murphy talk of his drive to change

what is unfair and to stand up for those less privileged and taken advantage of.

Thursday’s program was wound up with a Caribbean themed river cruise with great food, music

and lots of dancing.

For Friday the academic program was focused on Indigenous Health. The program was opened

by Tania Major, the 2007 Young Australian of the Year. Tania is a very passionate speaker who

has spoken about Indigenous and youth affairs in remote communities in national and

international forums. It was the best talk I have ever heard regarding the issues facing

Indigenous health, she was direct and purposeful, providing an insight into what she believed

needs to be done without the politics. Her opinion on the Northern Territory intervention was


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one not portrayed in the media very often, she was supportive of the intervention to an extent

as her main concern was the children, however like most people she had concerns about the

human rights which may have been violated in the process.

The day also included a Close The Gap morning tea. In the afternoon I attended an Indigenous

health workshop with Dr Glynis Johns. Dr Johns has been a GP in the Northern Territory, where

she works particularly in remote Aboriginal communities. In this workshop we brainstormed the

cultural, social and economic barriers faced by Indigenous people.

Friday night was another great social night, we all headed into China Town for a ‘crunchy prawn,

dancing dragon’ themed dinner. There was great entertainment and games with prizes to be

won.

Then it was Saturday or at Global Health, Challenge Day. Challenge Day began for one half of the

delegates with a documentary about the inspiring and haunting experiences of Dr James

Orbinski. This was a real turning point in my conference, a time at which I really thought helping

those less privileged and taken advantage of is something I want to be involved in as a doctor.

After graduating from medical school Dr Orbinski became a member of Médecins Sans

Frontières and went to Somalia to work there during the civil war. He worked in Baidoa, which

once called the City of Heaven had then been renamed the City of Death. What was once a city

of 20,000 people had now grown to 90,000 as thousands walked in, in the hope of finding food

and health care. At the time there were 350 people dying of starvation a day in this city alone.

The documentary filmed Dr Orbinski’s return to Somalia to revisit the people and the sights

where he worked. It also followed him back to Rwanda for the first time since he had worked

there during the genocide of approximately one million Tutsi people. He talked of seeing the

unimaginable and being witness to the darkest side of humanity, but it was his courage and

hope which struck a chord with everyone. If a man who had seen so much devastation and

destruction still had hope and drive for improving the lives of others then we all should.

The Challenge Day afternoon consisted of being split into around nine different teams with

people from other universities. There were a number of stations designed to challenge us, put

into practice what we had learnt and give us an idea for the types of situations people working

in global health face. For example one station was translating an Aboriginal dialect into English,

another was designing a refugee camp taking into account cholera in the water, sanitation,

security and access to health and food services by all. I found this event a lot of fun and

educational even though I often had no clue about what should be done in many of the

situations.


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Sunday was the last day but in no way the least. We listened to Dr Nick Coatsworth, another

member of MSF who had recently returned from Darfur, Sudan. Professor Ian Frazer also spoke

of the challenges and rewards of research and bringing the Gardasil vaccine into developing

countries. Gabi Hollows was the final speaker of the conference. She told of her and her late

husband, Fred Hollows’, work in over 465 remote Indigenous communities screening for and

treating eye disease. After her husband was diagnosed with cancer Gabi established The Fred

Hollows Foundation which in 2008 gave 176,472 sight-saving operations in 18 countries

worldwide.

The Global Health Conference was an amazing three and a half days, in which we were lucky

enough to hear some of the most courageous and driven people who have done amazing things

for others.

Documents

AMSA Global Health Conference - Rural Australia Medical ...ramus.ruralhealth.org.au/sites/default/files/AMSA_Global...anticipated for as we slept in swags under the stars on the Great