What does it take to become a leader in rural medicine? In this episode of ACRRM Life Hacks, Dr Emily Moody sits down with Associate Professor Dan Halliday — the 100th registrar to train for Fellowship with ACRRM and a former College President. Drawing on over 20 years of experience, Dan shares his journey from growing up on a sheep and cattle farm in Tenterfield to becoming a rural generalist obstetrician and a leader in rural healthcare.

Dan reflects on the pivotal moments and mentors that shaped his career, the importance of saying "yes" to opportunities, and the lessons learned in balancing leadership, advocacy, and clinical practice. He also discusses the challenges of transitioning to college-led training and the recognition of rural generalist medicine as a specialty.

This episode offers inspiring insights for anyone passionate about rural medicine or considering a leadership or advocacy role in healthcare. Tune in to hear Dan’s advice on stepping up, embracing challenges, and driving meaningful change in rural and remote communities.

In small communities, the line between personal and professional life can get blurry—so how do rural doctors manage professional boundaries? In this episode of ACRRM Life Hacks, Dr Emily Moody speaks with Professor Turun Sen Gupta, Acting Dean and Academic Head of Medicine at JCU, about the challenges of maintaining boundaries in rural and remote practice.

With 30 years of experience in medical education, Professor Sen Gupta explores what boundaries are and the distinction between boundary crossings and violations. They also discuss which boundaries are flexible versus absolute and the challenges of managing dual relationships in rural settings.

This conversation is especially valuable for anyone beginning their career in rural and remote healthcare, offering key insights and practical strategies for managing professional boundaries in these unique contexts.

Join Dr Emily Moody and Professor Lucie Walters in the latest episode of ACRRM Lifehacks. Emily and Lucie speak about the diverse nature of communities and the privilege of being rural generalist doctor in community. Themes like humility, reputation identity and the role of ACRRM are all discussed.

Lucie is passionate about improving the health outcomes of rural people through the education, training, and professional support of rural doctors. She is also a past President of the Australian College or Rural and Remote Medicine.

Lucie talks about her career as a rural generalist and an academic and explores the multitude of career pathways that are available to fellows. She speaks about academic medicine, university opportunities and the role further study in a doctor’s career.

Dr Emily Moody speaks with Dr Tim Leeuwenburg, a career rural generalist and FACRRM who works on the remote Kangaroo Island in South Australia.

In this podcast, Tim shares stories from his career. He emphasises the importance of being prepared as a rural generalist for the multitude of situations in which they will encounter. Tim also speaks about vulnerability, being connected with a support network and understanding how to support others.

Discussed in this podcast:

• Pre-Hospital Emergency Care (PHEC) - ACRRM
• Sandpiper Australia – Supporting Pre-Hospital Care in Rural Australia

In the second part of our interview with Dr James Best, Emily and James talk about practical ways to engage neurodivergent children and their carers in a primary care environment. James offers suggestions on how to make a safe space and how to engage with the children in a respectful and non-threatening way.

James and Emily also discuss a variety of current issues in raising children, such a screen-time, prescription of drugs and behaviour management.

In this first part of our 2-part discussion with Dr James Best, we will discuss the important role a primary care clinician has when treating neurodivergent children. James explains the importance of having a holistic view of the family and the child’s environment. A partnership with the child’s parents or carer/s is an important part of treating the child – this needs to be managed with care and empathy.

References:

Autism:

Raising children network Raising Children Network

Autism Awareness Australia - Empowering autism families

Books on Autism Spectrum Disorder | Autism Awareness Australia

Autism Spectrum Disorder and Diagnosis Australia | Autismwhatnext

ADHD:

Home - ADHD Australia

Homepage - Circle of Security International

Circle of Security (CoS) | Australian Institute of Family Studies (aifs.gov.au)

Join Dr Emily Moody as she talks with Dr Angela Stratton and Dr Lisa White about consultation skills and dealing with difficult situations. They will share their experiences as rural generalists and provide insights into how you can improve your own practice.

The conversation will cover topics such as difficult consultations, consultation styles, communication, and patient centered care.