ID-5184 Wonca Abstracts supplement A-K 13-10-23 - Flipbook - Page 59
WONCA 2023 Supplement 1: WONCA 2023 abstracts (A–K)
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WhyGP: An innovative education program to engage with
junior doctors and increase the profile of general practice
Dr Mariam Bahemia
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RACGP Western Australia
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WhyGP is an RACGP Western Australia initiative that was established in 2021 by Dr Ramya Raman,
then Co-Deputy Chair of RACGP WA.
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The committee is made up of general practitioners in Perth and Albany (rural), who liaise with hospitals
to deliver general practice education to junior doctors in the hospital setting. The program is assisted
by Lisa Francis, Membership, Marketing and Events Coordinator at RACGP WA.
Aims
In Australia, fewer medical graduates are choosing our speciality than ever before. WhyGP began
with the aims of identifying and ameliorating factors leading to poor uptake of general practice as a
speciality by integrating general practice teaching into the tertiary setting. It has become much more.
Content
The innovative program serves to increase general practice presence in hospitals and among junior
doctors, thereby increasing positive perceptions of general practice.
The program builds on engagement with medical student bodies (particularly those with an interest
in general practice), hospital general practice liaison officers, postgraduate medical educators and
tertiary departments of general practice.
General practice-based education content has been delivered and well received in several hospitals,
including rurally. Topics have included child and adolescent health, mental health, alcohol and drugs
in adolescents and dermatology, among many others. Delivery is in the form of presentations during
sanctioned junior doctor teaching time, grand rounds, lectures and interactive case studies, all
delivering primary care-based education content.
The program extends beyond education and offers networking and mentoring with junior doctors.
There are also opportunities to interact and engage with junior doctors and medical students at social
events.
Goals
Into the future we look to increase general practice presence and awareness among medical
graduates by continuing to deliver quality primary care-based education, and encouraging and
supporting junior doctors who are considering general practice as a speciality.
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