I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to attend the Monash Rural Training Pathways Congress: Rural Health Futures in Gippsland.

The eye-opening experience expanded my knowledge of rural careers in psychiatry. It was a fantastic learning opportunity to hear from aspiring rural clinicians about the future of rural health and rural careers, including in GP and rural generalism.

Personally, one of the highlights of the Congress was the panel discussion where Dr Maddie Leung spoke about her journey in psychiatry and her personal experience working as a consultation-liaison psychiatry registrar at the Mildura Base Public Hospital. She inspired me to take on her approach to everything with the mindset of ‘just give it a go.’ The keynote from Dr Derk Pol, co-founder of Gippsland Cardiology Service, was powerful and motivational. He provided us junior doctors with practical tips for the training pathway, such as the importance of building a good relationship with a mentor or supervisor.

And, of course, as a PIF member, the most unforgettable part of the Congress was socialising with other PIF members/guests at social events. I was fortunate to be sitting next to PIF guests A/Prof Heiu Pham (consultant psychiatrist) and Dr Maddie Leung (psychiatry registrar) over winery dinner and casually chatting about topics from internship to psychiatry to travel, food and wine (pretty much everything!). I would highly recommend other PIF members to attend the Congress in the future.

- Jennifer Wang, junior doctor

This opportunity is made available by the RANZCP's Psychiatry Interest Forum, to find out about upcoming opportunities visit the PIF opportunities page.