Te Kaha GP’s
work with
trainee doctors
recognised
By Phillipa Callaghan, Practice
Manager,Te Kaha Medical Centre.
Te Kaha GP Rachel Thomson’s work
supervising and mentoring trainee doctors,
has been recognised at Auckland University’s
Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences Annual
Teaching Awards.
Dr Thomson received one of three Dennis Pickup Clinical
Educator Awards. The awards are granted to those who make
an outstanding contribution by virtue of their qualities as role
models and their contribution to the relationship between the
health professions and the Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences.
Rachel was nominated for the award by students who’ve been on
placement at Te Kaha as well as medical school staff.
Phillipa Callaghan accepts the teaching award on behalf of Te Kaha GP
Dr Rachel Thomson. Also pictured Dennis Pickup (left) and head of Auckland
University’s Medical Programme, Professor Warwick Bagg.
Medical Centre expands
BOPDHB GM Property Services Jeff Hodson travelled to Te Kaha
recently, handing over the keys for a new portacom. The three
roomed facility provides more space for visiting clinicians to see
patients and will also be used as a learning and teaching space for
staff and trainee doctors on placement.
A karakia and shared lunch was provided with community leaders,
staff and local people to mark the occasion.
An award ceremony was held in Auckland last month for the
teaching accolades. As Rachel was attending the Pacific Region
Indigenous Doctors Conference in Hawaii as well as squeezing
in a well-deserved whānau holiday, she was unable to attend. But
a team of staff from the Te Kaha Medical Centre attended and
accepted the award on her behalf. In Rachel words… “ the clinic
has won an Award!”.
Dr Rachel Thomson runs a rural general practice at Te Kaha.
She has been taking Year 6 students for six week attachments
since 2007, as well as hosting Year 4 and Year 5 students on
occasion. She finds unique and innovative clinical learning
opportunities for her students, and affords them with many
memorable experiences which have a very positive and
lasting impact on their learning. Both this and the pastoral
care she provides goes far beyond our expectations of a rural
GP supervisor. She models strong team work between GPs,
nurses and other health professionals. She is an outstanding
clinician providing holistic 24 hour care to her rural community,
epitomising the primary care principles of comprehensiveness,
continuity, coordination and patient-centred-ness of care. This
serves as a superb role model to her students.
Rachel provides excellent mentoring and supervision for
students needing remediation, and despite her workload
will take on more when practices are needed urgently. As a
Department we have found that Rachel Thomson is a very
valuable honorary member of our team. Her contribution to
teaching is critical for the success of our programme, for which
we are very grateful. Extract taken from Faculty of Medical
and Health Sciences awards ceremony.
Learning and teaching is a passion for all staff at Te Whānau a
Apanui Community Health (Te Kaha Medical Centre). In 2016
Rachel was made a RNZCGP Distinguished Fellow. And Dr Emily
Gill who works at the Centre part-time is currently studying in the
US after receiving the prestigious Harkness Fellowship Award.
Jeff Hodson hands over the keys to nurses, Waimate Ngamoki and
Kiritahanga Savage.
Nurses Kiri and Waimate are joined by community members Hariata Paora
and Turuturu Gamble and land shareholder representative Whiripare Pahewa-
McLean at the Portacom installation.
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