NewMed visits GP24

At GP24 in Perth, NewMed was delighted to connect with our specialist GP colleagues and describe our mission, values and curriculum. The conference theme of “Reimagine health care” provided an excellent basis for discussing our innovations in medical education and how these take a community-situated, GP-first approach with technology-enabled delivery. Delegates had their curiosity sparked, and joined conversations about our aims and progress to date. Thank you for the positive and stimulating dialogue, and looking forward to seeing everyone again in 2025.

Pictured: Dr. Sharee Stedman, Dr. Shannon Saad and Professor Brad Murphy

Rural Medicine Australia (RMA) 

Dr. Natasha Yates and Professor Stephen Tobin
Dr. Natasha Yates and Professor Stephen Tobin
Dr. Natasha Yates and Professor Stephen Tobin

NewMed was honoured to sponsor the Conference App for RMA24. The conference, held in Darwin, was a wonderfully collaborative venture between ACRRM and RDA. NewMed resonates deeply with many of the values underpinning both of these organisations, and looks forward to ongoing conversations around how we can train medical students in rural and remote placements across Australia. Thank you to the many GPs and Rural Generalists who met with us, and for the enthusiasm shown for NewMed’s program. 

Do you practise in outer urban, regional, rural or remote communities?

NewMed is establishing a new 4-year graduate medical school, with an emphasis on primary care and appealing to prospective students living in outer urban, regional and rural Australia.

NewMed is advancing through the AMC accreditation process and plans for its first cohort to commence in 2027.

Students will be distributed across the country, learning through a new high-quality MD Program.

The delivery model uses advanced technologies to engage students in facilitated online small group learning, complemented by face-to-face weeks, and professionally supervised placements.

General Practice students in years 1, 2 and 3
Hospital placement in year 4

Aspiring doctors can study medicine in their home community across the first three years. Supervised clinical time in General Practice is needed for 4 hours per week in the first year, increasing to 8 hours/week (year 2) and 24 hours/week (year 3).

Year 4 will require clinical placements in towns with suitable hospitals.

Supporting your investment in the next generation, NewMed offers a stipend (similar and in addition to any PIP payments), active support and training from NewMed GP academics, and the opportunity of a local student remaining with a local practice over three years, developing their skills and contributing to care under supervision.

Would you like to support a local to become a doctor?

Please email soon GPplacements@newmedschool.com.au

General practice from day dot

The Medical Republic recently interviewed NewMed CEO Professor Stephen Tobin to talk about the proposed innovative new medical school. With clinical experience in general practice from the first week, the program aims to enrol 95 students, commencing in 2027, subject to regulatory approvals. 

Professor Tobin emphasised the need for more graduate doctors in regional and rural areas. The program is designed around a geographically distributed model, allowing students to study in their local communities. 

Read more about this on The Medical Republic here.

NewMed goes to RDAQ

Left to right: Professor Stephen Tobin, Dr. Brad Murphy OAM, Associate Professor Sue Hawken and Associate Professor Iulia Oancea
Left to right: Professor Stephen Tobin, Dr. Brad Murphy OAM, Associate Professor Sue Hawken and Associate Professor Iulia Oancea

The Queensland branch of the Rural Doctors Association held their 2024 annual conference at the Brisbane Convention Centre. NewMed took out a sponsorship kiosk at the event, in order to introduce the medical world to our brand, vision and values. Our CEO, Professor Stephen Tobin and Independent Board Director Dr. Brad Murphy were joined by Associate Professors Iulia Oancea and Sue Hawken to represent NewMed. Their mission was to talk to rural GPs, practice owners and college leadership about clinical placements, and to spread the word about NewMed. Thanks to our team of dedicated academic staff who went to throw out the banner on behalf of us all!

Welcome Dr. Natasha Yates

Dr. Natasha Yates
Dr. Natasha Yates
Dr. Natasha Yates

Natasha brings expertise in medical education and extensive experience of urban, rural and remote medicine to the NewMed team. A specialist GP, Natasha has cared for patients in a range of settings, from small town clinics and hospitals, to working as a solo practitioner in remote Arnhem Land communities, as well as an urban First Nations health clinic. Her current work is in a mainstream general practice. She worked for 12 years as an Assistant Professor of general practice at Bond University, resigning from this role to pursue a PhD in Medical Education which she is currently part-way through.

Welcome Dr. Sue Hawken

Dr. Sue Hawkens
Associate Professor Sue Hawken
Associate Professor Sue Hawken

NewMed is excited to announce that Dr. Sue Hawken will join the NewMed team from March 1st. Sue is an experienced medical educator, general practitioner, and professional supervisor. She developed and led the personal and professional skills domain at the University of Auckland’s medical programme and has held multiple educational leadership roles in the RNZCGP. 

Sue has been a specialist general practitioner for 28 years, and has over 20 years experience teaching into the medical program at the University of Auckland. She has held multiple roles including the coordinator the Professional, Clinical and Communication Skills courses in years 2 and 3, the Phase 2 Director and creating and leading the innovative Personal and Professional Skills domain of the medical programme.

Sue’s teaching philosophy is to model a student-centred approach for learners as a pathway to understanding the elements of providing patient-centred care.

Welcome Professor Stephen Tobin

Professor Stephen Tobin

Stephen Tobin will commence on 15/01/2023 as NewMed’s CEO and Dean. Stephen is a highly acclaimed educator and surgeon who has championed innovative and collaborative approaches to the teaching of medicine. He practised as a surgeon in regional Victoria and worked with three medical schools there. Stephen has held senior roles in Australian clinical education, including Dean of Education at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) and latterly Associate Dean of Clinical Education at Western Sydney University School of Medicine.

Continue reading

Welcome Dr. Brad Murphy

Brad Murphy

Brad Murphy OAM was appointed on 1/11/2023 to the NewMed Board as an independent director. Brad is a proud Kamilaroi man from north-western NSW who is now based in Bundaberg.

A Rural Generalist and GP Practice Owner, Brad has a long history in medico-politics, advocacy and academia. Throughout his celebrated career he has sought to identify how health care can be made better and more sustainable for all Australians, including the professionals who deliver that care.

Continue reading