New year sees fresh faces join SMHS medical workforce
2025 SMHS intern cohort
As we head into 2025, we welcome 128 medical graduates beginning their careers with South Metropolitan Health Service (SMHS) as junior doctors.
This year's interns join us from local, interstate and overseas medical schools, bringing with them a rich and diverse collection of experiences to further enrich SMHS culture and environment.
Interns play a vital role in the SMHS healthcare team and we're privileged to be able to welcome them and play a supportive role in their career.
"Having been a patient myself growing up, I've gained a deep appreciation for the care and compassion shown by my doctors,"; Altinka said.
"Their dedication inspired me to pursue a career where I could make a difference and improve the patient experience.
"I'm looking forward to completing surgical rotations, especially in plastics and reconstructive surgery."
At the age of 33, Rob Durnan is excited to have completed his studies at Notre Dame University and commence his career at SMHS.
"Before studying medicine I worked as a paramedic with St John Ambulance WA, Queensland Ambulance Service and the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS)," Rob said.
"Having met many rural generalists and RFDS doctors along the way, seeing their breadth of medical knowledge was truly inspiring.
"I'm looking forward to completing my rotations in Neonates, NICU and Emergency so that I can become more comfortable in managing neonatal and paediatric patients."
For the first time at a single site in WA, interns have the opportunity to rotate through paediatrics, neonatology, obstetrics, gynaecology and palliative care.
FSFHG Doctor Support Unit (DSU), Medical Education Intern Orientation Lead, Lisa Clegg, said the junior doctors are set to complete a total of five rotations throughout the year with the additional five new specialty rotations included in 2025.
"This is a South Metro innovation which was created after a suggestion by one of our 2024 medical students which enabled the DSU, in collaboration with our specialty teams and the Post Graduate Medical Council WA, to create and offer these unique clinical experiences," Lisa said.
"The DSU is dedicated to creating a supportive and nurturing learning environment, where junior doctors are able to develop their skills to give the best possible patient care, and this is a great example of the collaborations we can achieve by working closely with our juniors.
"Our interns play an important role in the health care system, using their skills and training to deliver the highest levels of compassionate, patient-centred care, whilst continually learning and developing as clinicians."
Over the coming months you will meet our new interns at Fiona Stanley, Fremantle and Rockingham General hospitals, as well as at Albany Health Campus, Broome Health Campus and Northam Regional Hospital.
On behalf of SMHS, we extend a very warm welcome and heartfelt congratulations to all our junior doctors as they start their professional journey.
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