Madeline Wilson fell in love with Orange during a university placement and after returning to start her journey to becoming a specialist GP, her feelings haven't changed.
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She's one of five doctors who have started their three-to-four years of specialist training in Orange this month, joining the 15 already in training at accredited GP practices across the city.
Dr Wilson, the first doctor in her family, said she's over the moon to be in Orange again to train and has her sights set on remaining a rural GP.
"I grew up in Sydney (and) went straight to university in Armidale after high school, which was a big lifestyle change for a young, Sydney girl," she said.
The vibrant lifestyle, with the fantastic food and drink scene was a big feature that appealed to me and drew me back to [Orange].
- Dr Madeline Wilson
"During university I had a short placement in Orange, which I loved. The vibrant lifestyle, with the fantastic food and drink scene was a big feature that appealed to me and drew me back to this area.
"I'm excited to now have the opportunity to get back to rural medicine and the rural lifestyle."
Dr Wilson is training at Colour City Medical Practice and admitted she found the early stages of her training to be a steep learning curve, but she's relished the challenge.
"It's been a big step up in clinical responsibility from working as a junior doctor in the hospital system," she explained.
"I was drawn to general practice after loving different specialty terms as a hospital doctor. I also realised that in general practice I would be able to cover so many of those things, plus have the chance for long term doctor-patient relationships."
Georgina van de Water, CEO of regional training organisation GP Synergy, said local communities play an important role in helping trainees like Dr Wilson settle in and form networks.
"GP registrars contribute significantly to primary healthcare provision in rural areas like Orange, with each completing about 2500 consultations each year," she said.
"Over the many years that we have been training doctors to specialise as GPs in rural communities, the consistent feedback we receive is that they find rural training a rich and rewarding learning environment.
"Collectively, and individually, we all have a role to play to encourage these doctors to stay working rurally after completing training.
"Receiving a first-class training experience is critical, as is ensuring doctors and their families, are well- supported and nurtured by their local community."
Dr Wilson is currently one of 122 GP registrars training in the Western NSW subregion and 20 in Orange.
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