Over the next 12 months the interns from across Australia will rotate and learn the ropes of the hospital’s Medical Unit, Surgical Unit and Emergency Department.
GV Health director of intern training Carolyn Kamenjarin said students usually blossomed in their first year of work.
“Our training program involves a lot of education where they learn a wide range of skills,” she said.
“They go from needing a lot of supervision to over the year becoming more confident in themselves and their decisions."
The internship not only promotes regional health but also the Goulburn Valley region.
Monash University graduate Nick Kozlov said he was looking forward to starting his career in Shepparton and becoming part of the local community.
“I’ve had my placement in Melbourne city for the past three years and I wanted to go somewhere a bit quieter and treat patients on more of a personal level,” Dr Kozlov said.
“I really like the community feel of Shepparton and I hope to join a hockey and martial arts club."
The graduates are given the opportunity to specialise in different areas, including anaesthetics, rehabilitation and psychiatry.
Dr Kozlov is yet to decide in which area he wants to specialise but said his internship and working in the field would soon point him in the right direction.
“Shepparton’s the only hospital that gives you a taste of anaesthetics, which is something I’m interested in,” he said.
“It’s the only hospital in Victoria which has that training program, actually."
GV Health has retained multiple interns from its 2019 intake, including Sarah Marshall.
Dr Marshall decided to stay at the hospital after having such a great experience during her training year.
“My family is from the Seymour area and I did a lot of my university placements in Shepparton, so I was keen to stay in the community which provided me with these opportunities,” she said.
Dr Marshall hopes to specialise as a GP in years to come.
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