Medical students share their experiences doing clinical placements

Through GCPHN’s Clinical Placements Program, Gold Coast GPs and GP Registrars can play a pivotal role in shaping the future healthcare workforce by mentoring medical students from Griffith University and Bond University.

Clinical placements give medical students their first real insight into the breadth, complexity and continuity of care that defines general practice. They provide an opportunity to experience the relationships, trust and community impact that make primary care unique.

Here, Alexa Zeh – a final year student at Bond University, and Muhammad Nadeem, a final year medical student at Griffith University, share their experiences being involved. Between them, the duo have done more than 20 placements as part of their degrees – helping give them real-world experience to set them up for bright futures in medicine.

GPs: Apply now

Play a pivotal role in shaping the future healthcare workforce by mentoring medical students from Griffith University and Bond University through GCPHN’s Clinical Placements Program. By sharing your knowledge, experience and passion for general practice, you’ll help prepare the next generation of doctors while strengthening the future of healthcare in our region. EOIs are open now: Express your interest or find out more by emailing clinicalplacements@gcphn.com.au.

Alexa’s experience

Continuity of care was one of the things that stood out most to Bond University final-year medical student Alexa Zeh during her placement at Harbour Town Doctors.

Alexa was given opportunities to see patients independently, ask her own clinical questions and contribute to consultations.

But it was the relationships she saw between her supervisor, Dr Alam, and his patients that left the greatest impression – seeing how patients relied on their GP not only for medical advice, but also for guidance about broader aspects of their lives.

“Observing how Dr Alam had built such strong, trusting relationships with his patients was truly inspiring,” Alexa said.

“I saw first-hand how patients came to rely on him, and how his genuine care made a real difference in his patients’ lives, which reinforced the type of doctor I aspire to become.”

Alexa was able to contribute her own knowledge during her placement, drawing on her previous studies in nutrition and dietetics to provide evidence-based nutritional advice when appropriate during consultations.

She said being able to bring her previous experience into the clinical environment made her feel valued and demonstrated the benefits of recognising the skills students bring with them.

Her dream

Alexa aspires to become a cardiologist, and found doing her placement has helped deepen her understanding of what goes into becoming a specialist. “GPs refer to specialists so it’s important to understand what goes into meeting a patient and taking their whole history, and what their concerns are… before they get referred to a specialist – or a cardiologist – one day.”

Muhammad’s experience

For Griffith University fourth-year medical student Muhammad Nadeem, his placement provided a complementary insight into the role of a GP.

Earlier in his life, Muhammad was a primary caretaker for his grandparents. He’d take them to GP appointments and was inspired seeing how the GP would interact with them, help with management of their co-morbidities and provide reassurance.

“That’s really what triggered my interest,” he reflects.

Working with patients from a wide range of cultural backgrounds during his medical placement, he watched how his supervisor adapted his communication style to help each person feel comfortable, understood and respected.

It reinforced for Muhammad the importance of cultural sensitivity and patient-centred communication – skills he will carry into the next stage of his medical career.

He said the experience also helped build his confidence in communication, problem-solving and clinical reasoning.

“It also taught me how to adapt my approach to each individual patient,” Muhammad said.

“I also really valued the supportive learning environment and the guidance I received.”

His dream

“I’ve really set my mind towards accomplishing a career in general practice with an interest in sports medicine,” he says.

Dr Alam’s perspective: Why should GPs get involved?

Dr Alam from Harbour Town Doctors, who supervised both students, has a simple message for doctors considering taking part in GCPHN’s next Clinical Placement Program intakes.

“If you have the instinct and motivation to teach it’s a very good experience,” he said.

“I would encourage anyone to take a student on.”

During his career, he anticipates he’s supervised more than 50 students. His experience suggests the benefits extend well beyond the consultation room.

For Dr Alam, it is a contribution to medicine that began with his own teachers and patients and continues with every student who walks through the doors.

His fervent hope is that many more Gold Coast GPs and practices will open their doors to the next generation by getting involved in the GCPHN Clinical Placements Program.