Rural health calls for Dr Diolombi

The next generation of doctors have picked up their stethoscopes at Townsville HHS facilities this year, with four graduates starting their journeys in rural health.

Ingham Health Service intern Dr Moussa Diolombi said Ingham was at the top of his list for his first placement.

“I’d heard good things about Ingham and hadn’t had a chance to do a rural placement before, so I really looked forward to the opportunity,” Moussa said.

“I’ve been here for six weeks and it’s been good; I’ve had a lot of support and a lot of different experiences.

“So far I’ve been able to do heaps of hands-on procedures, and I really enjoy that everyone knows each other; it helps build a rapport with the patients more easily.”

Moussa said a career in medicine was in his blood.

“I come from a family of doctors; my mum and my sister are doctors so I was exposed to it from fairly early on,” he said.

“I really enjoyed seeing them interact with patients and just helping the community more broadly.”

Moussa said while it was too early to decide his specialty, he wasn’t ruling out a career in rural health.

“The experience I’ve had so far has been really good, I’ll just have to see where the future takes me.”

Seventy-five intern doctors started across the Townsville HHS in January this year.