All posts by Kirsten O'Leary

This month we spoke to Dr Nga Phan, General Practitioner at the UQ Health Care Cornwall Street Medical Centre.

 What inspired you to pursue a career as a general practitioner?
As a general practitioner, what I enjoy most about my work is the variety of health problems that I get to see and treat.  I am the first point of contact for medical issues for my patients and most of my patients will continue to see me in the long term for advice and treatment.

General practice also offers excellent work prospects.  Everyone will need to see a doctor at some point in their lives and with a growing population, the demand for services is great.

What does a typical day look like for you?
On a typical day, I usually spend around eight hours consulting and half an hour on administrative work.  I see patients and their families from all ages and provide a range of services from treating acute and chronic illnesses to providing preventative health and health education.

What aspects of your role do you enjoy the most?
I am a general practitioner with a special interest in ear, nose and throat disorders.  In particular, I have an interest in chronic sinus disease. I have completed a Master’s degree in this area.  My workplace is also well equipped to allow me to perform ear examinations and cleaning using microscope suction.

What are your interests outside of work?
Maintaining a good work-life balance is important to me and general practice allows me to fulfill this.  I play tennis three times a week and jog/cycle most other days.  I am also a keen traveller and enjoy visiting other parts of Australia and overseas with my family and friends.

What do you love about living in Brisbane?
I love living and working in a metropolitan area.  Living in Brisbane, I enjoy the warmer climate.  I also think that our city has beautiful architecture, parks and riverfronts.

This month we spoke to Dr Brigid Flanders, General Practitioner at the UQ Health Care Cornwall Street Medical Centre.

What inspired you to become a GP?
During the course of my secondary school education in science, I was introduced to a range of vocational options and I believed that studying and practising medicine suited my interests and my orientation to caring for people’s wellbeing. After graduating, I spent three years working in hospitals and during this time, I realised that my greatest interest was in providing continuing care not just emergency care. The role of a specialist general practitioner was the best fit for me.

What were some of your highlights whilst working as registrar at the Cornwall Street Medical Centre?
I came to Cornwall Street Medical Centre in my final semester as a GP Registrar. I found the work with young and medically oriented patients interesting and varied. The level of support of the Practice Manager, senior GPs and other staff was a highlight. Another highlight was that I gathered an increasing number of families and child patients.

How did this experience equip you to become a GP?
A GP could spend their working day in their consulting room seeing only patients. I learned that it’s very important to become part of a collegial group of medical practitioners that includes but also extends beyond other GP colleagues. I learned to value professional conversations very highly because GPs are presented with such a wide range of medical problems to solve each and every day, it’s often through continuing professional conversations that your knowledge and skills expand to suit the demands of the role.

What does a typical day look like for you?
The only things that are ‘typical’ in my working days are where I work and when I work. The vast range of medical issues that I deal with and the number of different patients that I see means that my work each day is always varied.

My pattern of work is as follows… I try to arrive usually half an hour before my first appointment so that I can check and act on results that may have come in. I spend all morning consulting, try to keep on time for patients and so that I can share lunch with and catch up with colleagues. Following afternoon consultations, I typically follow up administration arising from the days consultations and incoming results.

What are your interests outside of work?
Maintaining fitness and family related activities are my greatest interests outside work, alongside music, film and the beach.