Medical students Mikaela Borgas and Jasmyn Lloyd take out prestigious 2020 President’s Prize award

ACRRM is pleased to introduce 2020 President’s Prize winners Mikaela Borgas and Jasmyn Lloyd.

Selected from a large number of high calibre applications by Immediate Past President Dr Ewen McPhee, the President’s Prize recognises a medical student’s commitment to continuing a career in rural generalism.

Growing up in rural locations in South Australia, Mikaela and Jasmyn are aware of the rewards of a Rural Generalist providing health care in rural and rural communities.

Mikaela, from Booleroo Centre, a small town with a population of 350 people plans to equip herself with the skills needed to handle acute emergency situations. Mikaela says: “Being able to stabilise a patient and keep them alive while awaiting a retrieval is a very real prospect in rural and remote locations, and it’s important to have the advanced skills required.

“I am also very passionate about advocating for the importance of our rural healthcare services and can see myself getting involved with teaching and advocacy in the future,” Mikaela says.  

Like Mikaela, Jasmyn is well versed with how much a rural community trusts and relies on their local General Practitioner and admires the resilience and ability of Rural Generalists who “learn to use what they have and get around the lack of resources”.

Jasmyn wishes to follow her profession wherever she is needed, either within her local Riverlands community, or travel around to assist families on stations. Her passion for women’s health and access to female doctors is her inspiration. 

“Having a female doctor can make a real difference in the community,” Jasmyn says. "Not needing to travel far to see a female doctor, particularly for obstetrics and gynaecology care, can have a profound difference to healthcare outcomes.”