Something To Write Home About...

Hello!

We can now breathe a little easier because I've hung up my 'Melancholy Pen' and I am now writing for good, not evil.

A couple of weeks ago, I entered a competition run by The General Practice Students Network in which I had to write, in 200 words or less, how I would improve the quality of care delivered to my patients if I was working as a general practitioner.

Given that General Practice has been on my list of differentials for specialities since my first year of medical school (with other top contenders being Paediatrics, Palliative Care, and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry), it wasn't too hard to come up with something honest and original.

To cut a long story short, I won!

GPSN has now offered me full sponsorship (including flights and accommodation) to attend the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners' (RACGP) Annual Conference in Gold Coast from the 25th to the 27th of October.

Needless to say, I am ecstatic.

I have been wanting to attend this conference since first hearing about it four years ago, and I'm psyched that I'll finally be able to be a part of it!

Without a doubt, I'll certainly be writing about my adventures in Gold Coast, so watch this space!

At the risk of mortal embarrassment, I've includes my winning entry below.

Go on... Have a laugh.


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When I think of my future and what I'd like to be

I would love nothing more than to be a GP!

Hand in hand with my patients, I will solemnly swear

To provide them with good continuity of care

I will listen and hear all their worries and sorrow

To ensure that my given advice they will follow

I will keep up-to-date with the research and times

To practice Best Practice on these patients of mine

Health-promotion and prevention will be my main aims

Towards better healthcare and Medicare claims

My colleagues and I will work busy as bees

To help ease the burden of chronic disease

To all specialists and nurses - my new found best friends

I will effectively communicate my patients' trends

As for all younger juniors and doctors-to-be

I will act as a mentor for all those to see

I will teach by example and learn like a sponge

Advocate for my patients, I will take the plunge

I will fight without end to end suffering and strife

And focus my passion on learning for life

Evidently I hope it is now plain to see

That I'd love nothing more than to be a GP!