Medical Students Explore the Rewards of Rural General Practice
04 Sep 2026
During August, the RACGP South Australia supported several events designed to help medical students understand what a career in general practice and Rural Generalism can look like.
The sessions gave students opportunities to speak with GPs and registrars about training, career choices and the experience of working outside metropolitan areas.
Seeing rural medicine in practice
One of the events was the General Practice Students Network Flinders and Adelaide career pathways evening. Medical students from across South Australia heard directly from RACGP representatives Dr Clare Keogh, Dr David Lam and Dr Adriano Barilla about their experiences and pathways into general practice and rural generalism.
Students also travelled to Clare for the Adelaide University Rural Health Alliance’s ‘A Day in the Life of a Rural GP’ program.
The event included talks from local doctors, practical skills sessions and a visit to the local hospital. This gave students a closer look at the wide range of work involved in rural healthcare.
RACGP Medical Educator and Rural Generalist Dr Kari Sims said direct exposure was important for students considering rural medicine.
She highlighted the need for doctors in training to understand both the opportunities and challenges that come with working in regional areas.
A career with variety
For many rural GPs, the range of work and strong community connections are important parts of the job.
Rural GP Dr Kirsten Densley said working in a regional community had allowed her to build relationships with patients and their families while developing her clinical skills.
She also said rural practice had encouraged her to become a stronger advocate for the needs of her community.
Dr Densley hopes early exposure to rural medicine will encourage more medical students to consider regional careers and understand the difficulties some patients face when travelling to metropolitan areas for healthcare.
Learning beyond the classroom
AURHA Medical Representative Aprita Page said students valued the practical activities and conversations with doctors during the Clare program.
The aim was to give students a realistic picture of everyday rural medicine, including the range of clinical work, close healthcare teams and strong community connections.
The RACGP also took part in the Adelaide Medical Students’ Society Careers Conference. SA Registrar Liaison Officer Dr Jade Pisaniello joined a panel focused on specialty pathways and training experiences.
Together, these events provided medical students with different perspectives on general practice and rural generalism, helping them explore how these careers could fit into their future plans.
Medical Students Explore the Rewards of Rural General Practice
Source: RACGP