Across Australia, our Rural Generalists are making a meaningful impact in their communities, shaping stronger healthcare systems, and forging diverse and inspiring career paths. Many ACRRM members have also been recognised nationally, receiving awards for their leadership, dedication, and contribution to rural and remote medicine.
Explore our collection of member stories to discover the real experiences behind rural generalism - the challenges, the rewards, and the journeys that define our College.
If you’re an ACRRM Rural Generalist and would like to share your story, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us at communications@acrrm.org.au.
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As a senior consultant Anaesthetist and a Rural Generalist Dr Deborah Simmons has done amazing work in her community of Prosperine. She has played a prominent role instructing and training future Rural Generalists in the region and was also part of the medical team that was vital to the saving of lives during the 2020 Grosvenor Coal Mine gas blast in Moranbah.
Dr Simmons' achievements were recognised with an ACRRM Distinguished Service Award at RMA20. The College recently caught up with Dr Simmons to ask her a few questions about her life as a Rural Generalist.
Why did you become a Rural Generalist?
While doing work as a Locum Anaesthetist I worked in many rural hospitals, and I was in awe of the scope of practice of the Rural Generalists I met along the way. It made me realise that I wanted to be able to do that - help anyone that comes through the hospital door, so I got my second fellowship with ACRRM. I have been working as a Rural Generalist for eight years now. Every day is a new adventure. I just love my job!
Describe your journey to Fellowship with ACRRM
I am a senior consultant Anaesthetist and as per above, I got to work with many Rural Generalists and was in awe of their breadth of knowledge. I gained fellowship with ACRRM on the Independent Pathway. The support from ACRRM was incredible. I had an amazing General Practice supervisor. After fellowship I became an instructor for Rural Emergency Skills Training (REST) and Advanced Life Support (ALS), as well as a primary StAMPS examiner. I also wrote the Rural Anaesthesia Crisis Management (RACM) course for ACRRM which has also been recognised by the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists for emergency response CPD (Continuing Professional Development) in Anaphylaxyis, CICO (Can't Intubate, Can't Oxygenate), Acute Severe Behavioural Response Management and Major Haemorrhage.
What does a typical day at work entail?
I am lucky enough to work in the Whitsundays, at Proserpine Hospital. We are part of the Mackay Hospital and Health service in Northern Queensland. As a rural hospital we cover obstetrics including Lower segment Cesarian section. We have visiting surgical specialities that our GPAs (GP anaesthetists) look after including gynaecology, general surgery and orthopaedics. We even have our own ACRRM surgeon. In a day I may have to manage epidurals, Emergency Lower Segment Caesarean Section, major trauma, palliative care or even reassurance for a mum who brings their child in with croup.
What are some of the unique challenges of rural medicine in the Proserpine region?
In my time in the Mackay Hospital and Health Service I have dealt with many different presentations. I have seen patients through diagnosis to treatment and palliative care. I have done many emergency obstetric procedures with my GP Obstetrician Colleges. We have dealt with multiple trauma including a bus crash, which within an hour our whole community responded to. I have also recently tended to a mining incident with a group of staff I had just met. The rural hospital staff were amazing. They saved five men’s lives.
What are some of the benefits or personal rewards of working as a Rural Generalist?
The rewards of working in a community are many. I have been the anaesthetist for the delivery of a number of staff babies. I've helped patients and their families through the palliative care journey. I've had a patient I intubated in a trauma (who I was not sure if they would make it) come back to say thank you. One of my most memorable moments was a patient who came to see me in general practice who was obviously depressed. I saw her regularly over a few months and gradually saw an improvement. Her husband came to one of her appointments and thanked me for giving him back his wife. Another great reward is having a supportive team that sticks together during the difficult times.
You've been to Rural Medicine Australia (RMA) Conferences, and last year you received a Distinguished Service Award at RMA20. For anyone who hasn't attended an RMA conference before, can you say a few words about the experience of attending?
RMA, as per rural generalism is a varied and great experience. Listening to people talk about their special interests and their experiences makes you realise how lucky you are to have such a variety in your practice. I have learnt so much from the conferences I have attended and made lifelong friends as well.
Interested in attending RMA21 Virtual? Check out this year's program and register now.
Why did you become a Rural Generalist?
While doing work as a Locum Anaesthetist I worked in many rural hospitals, and I was in awe of the scope of practice of the Rural Generalists I met along the way. It made me realise that I wanted to be able to do that - help anyone that comes through the hospital door, so I got my second fellowship with ACRRM. I have been working as a Rural Generalist for eight years now. Every day is a new adventure. I just love my job!
Describe your journey to Fellowship with ACRRM
I am a senior consultant Anaesthetist and as per above, I got to work with many Rural Generalists and was in awe of their breadth of knowledge. I gained fellowship with ACRRM on the Independent Pathway. The support from ACRRM was incredible. I had an amazing General Practice supervisor. After fellowship I became an instructor for Rural Emergency Skills Training (REST) and Advanced Life Support (ALS), as well as a primary StAMPS examiner. I also wrote the Rural Anaesthesia Crisis Management (RACM) course for ACRRM which has also been recognised by the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists for emergency response CPD (Continuing Professional Development) in Anaphylaxyis, CICO (Can't Intubate, Can't Oxygenate), Acute Severe Behavioural Response Management and Major Haemorrhage.
What does a typical day at work entail?
I am lucky enough to work in the Whitsundays, at Proserpine Hospital. We are part of the Mackay Hospital and Health service in Northern Queensland. As a rural hospital we cover obstetrics including Lower segment Cesarian section. We have visiting surgical specialities that our GPAs (GP anaesthetists) look after including gynaecology, general surgery and orthopaedics. We even have our own ACRRM surgeon. In a day I may have to manage epidurals, Emergency Lower Segment Caesarean Section, major trauma, palliative care or even reassurance for a mum who brings their child in with croup.
What are some of the unique challenges of rural medicine in the Proserpine region?
In my time in the Mackay Hospital and Health Service I have dealt with many different presentations. I have seen patients through diagnosis to treatment and palliative care. I have done many emergency obstetric procedures with my GP Obstetrician Colleges. We have dealt with multiple trauma including a bus crash, which within an hour our whole community responded to. I have also recently tended to a mining incident with a group of staff I had just met. The rural hospital staff were amazing. They saved five men’s lives.
What are some of the benefits or personal rewards of working as a Rural Generalist?
The rewards of working in a community are many. I have been the anaesthetist for the delivery of a number of staff babies. I've helped patients and their families through the palliative care journey. I've had a patient I intubated in a trauma (who I was not sure if they would make it) come back to say thank you. One of my most memorable moments was a patient who came to see me in general practice who was obviously depressed. I saw her regularly over a few months and gradually saw an improvement. Her husband came to one of her appointments and thanked me for giving him back his wife. Another great reward is having a supportive team that sticks together during the difficult times.
You've been to Rural Medicine Australia (RMA) Conferences, and last year you received a Distinguished Service Award at RMA20. For anyone who hasn't attended an RMA conference before, can you say a few words about the experience of attending?
RMA, as per rural generalism is a varied and great experience. Listening to people talk about their special interests and their experiences makes you realise how lucky you are to have such a variety in your practice. I have learnt so much from the conferences I have attended and made lifelong friends as well.
Interested in attending RMA21 Virtual? Check out this year's program and register now.
I was in awe of the scope of practice of the Rural Generalists I met along the way. It made me realise that I wanted to be able to do that - help anyone that comes through the hospital door.Dr Deborah Simmons