A prevocational trainee with strong advocacy to improve the education, training and wellbeing of Junior Medical Officers in Rural and Regional NSW, a Director of Prevocational Education and Training for his dedication to JMO wellbeing, education and mentoring; and a Manager for Medical Education, JMO Support & Wellbeing for her advocacy and passion to improve Junior Doctor education and wellbeing have been announced as recipients of the 2024 NSW Prevocational Training Awards organised by the Health Education and Training Institute (HETI).

The prestigious Awards celebrate the substantial contributions made by inspiring individuals to the education and support of prevocational trainees across the NSW Health system.

“The transition from medical student to intern is one of the most challenging transitions in a doctor’s career” states Dr Jo Burnand, Acting Medical Director at HETI.

“Providing high quality education and training is essential for the success of this transition, their success as a doctor and their ability to provide quality patient care” said Dr Burnand.

“There are many clinicians delivering exceptional care and leadership to prevocational education and training programs in NSW”.

“These awards recognise and honour three very impressive health professionals who are making outstanding contributions to prevocational training in NSW” added Dr Burnand.

The three Awards celebrate inspiring individuals and their support of junior doctors: the Geoff Marel Award recognising the work of a supervisor or Director of Prevocational Education and Training; the Judy Muller Award for managers or administrators; and the JMO of the Year Award in recognition of those who have made significant contributions to improving prevocational medical education and training.

HETI’s Prevocational Training Program oversees the training of doctors in their first two years of practice, and these Awards recognise outstanding individuals who provide support and help make these early years a success for NSW trainees and for our health system.

JMO of the Year – Dr Alyce Finch

Dr Alyce Finch is a Resident Medical Officer at Wagga Wagga Base Hospital.

Dr Finch is the recipient of the prestigious NSW JMO of the Year Award in recognition of her substantial contributions to the education, support and mentoring of prevocational trainees, in Wagga Wagga Base Hospital (WWBH).

This year she coordinated the peer led content for JMO Orientation Week including ‘A Guide to Surviving Internship’ and ‘What to Expect on After Hours’ and created a pre-recorded version of these presentations for rotational metropolitan JMOs. She also collaborates with Term Supervisors, Registrars and the JMO Education Support Officer to update terms as well as attends the Nursing and Midwifery Management Committee meeting to discuss issues relevant to the JMO experience and to facilitate interdisciplinary communication.

Dr Finch takes a strong interest in the needs of the Riverina rural community. She regularly seeks opportunities to broaden and deepen her understanding of medical presentations affecting her community.

Dr Finch holds the position of RMOA Resident Medical Officer Representative, 2024 as well as being the RMO representative on the General Clinical Training Council (GCTC). Other initiatives attributed to Dr Finch include the instigation of Friday afternoon JMO handover short format clinical teaching sessions, advocating for protected Wednesday lunchtime JMO teaching, contributing to tutoring of peers, advocating to secure additional resources for educational purposes such as access to ultrasound machines and providing suggestions for ED rostering so JMOs are not missing out on educational opportunities.

Her peers note that she embodies and role models the values most important for work as a doctor. She is respectful and kind with all her interactions within and out of work and is a leader among her peers.

For her many contributions to the WWBH community, Dr Finch was elected Intern of the Year for WWBH in 2023.

Dr Finch will represent NSW in the Australia and New Zealand Prevocational Medical Education Forum awards, to be announced in November 2024.

The Geoff Marel Award Winner – Dr Christopher Mumme

Dr Christopher Mumme is the Director of Prevocational Education and Training (DPET) and an Anaesthetist at Wagga Wagga Base Hospital (WWBH).

Dr Mumme is the recipient of the prestigious Geoff Marel Award in recognition of his substantial contributions to the education, wellbeing and support of prevocational trainees, in WWBH.

In his role as DPET Dr Mumme has made a significant contribution to the education and teaching of PGY1/2 (JMOs) at WWBH by ensuring there is a comprehensive teaching program in place for the JMOs. He has further contributed to JMO teaching through anaesthetic specific teaching and facilitation of ultrasound guided cannulation workshops. To support the challenges faced by rurally based JMOs in accessing external skills sessions Dr Mumme has facilitated and funded advanced skills training in ultrasound cannulation, Advanced Life Support, lumbar puncture and suturing.

Dr Mumme is a champion of JMO wellbeing and actively advocates for flexible and supportive training opportunities for JMOs.  This includes the implementation of a psychological wellbeing program for prevocational doctors at WWBH over the last 3 years that encompasses regular cognitive behavioural therapy-based education sessions facilitated by a psychologist with a view to developing the psychological resilience of the prevocational JMO cohort at WWBH.

His passion and advocacy for the wellbeing of JMOs has been successful in fostering a positive workplace environment for JMOs that encourages collaboration, safety, wellbeing and growth of clinical knowledge. It is for these reasons that Dr Mumme was internally awarded the WWBH Medical Wellbeing Champion award in 2023.

Junior doctors at WWBH note that Dr Mumme’s warmth and approachability has provided a safe pace for JMOs to raise concerns or suggestions that will be taken seriously and managed in a professional and timely manner.

Dr Mumme will represent NSW in the Australia and New Zealand Prevocational Medical Education Forum awards, to be announced in November 2024.

The Judy Muller Award Winner – Ms Marie O’Leary

Ms Marie O’Leary is the Manager, Medical Education, JMO Support & Wellbeing at Central Coast.

Ms O’Leary has been awarded the Judy Muller Award in recognition of her commitment to the wellbeing and education of JMOs at the Central Coast. She and her team liaise closely with the Central Coast RMO Association (CCRMOA) representatives to review the education program for prevocational trainees at the start of the year and hold regular meetings throughout the year to ensure relevance for future sessions.

Junior doctors working at the Central Coast have recognised Ms O’Leary’s role in supporting the positive culture and fostering the wellbeing of JMOs working and living on the Central Coast. She proactively seeks feedback from JMOs and presenters about the quality of teaching sessions and suggestions for further learning topics and subsequently adapts the curriculum and implements initiatives based on the feedback.

Ms O’Leary chairs the bi-monthly JMO Wellbeing Committee meetings and works closely with the CCRMOA Wellbeing representatives to organise an extensive wellbeing program with numerous events throughout the year such as “Barefoot Bowls with the Bosses” (included consultants and medical education staff).  She also supports the RMO association in running social events for the new interns throughout their first week.

Other initiatives Ms O’Leary has instigated include the JMO Wellbeing Week involving a schedule of “Coffee and Cupcakes” with PAWS Pet therapy, “Meditation & Muffins”, lunch for JMOs and their teams, Friday night social drinks and coordination of career-focused sessions for RMOs prior to job applications opening.

The Central Coast JMOs report that Ms O’Leary is present at every wellbeing event and supports JMOs in-person whenever possible. Her positive attitude, honesty and reliability makes her approachable to all JMOs for any issues and they feel that their concerns are understood and will be addressed.

The Prevocational Training Council, consisting of education, training and medical leaders from across NSW select Award recipients following an open nomination process. A list of previous recipients can be found on the HETI website.

About HETI and our work with Medical Graduates

Together with our health partners, HETI provides education and training support to around 2200 junior doctors in that pivotal space between medical school and vocational training.

This year 1061 interns were placed into NSW Health facilities through HETI’s Medical Graduate Recruitment Program. HETI is accredited by the Australian Medical Council as the prevocational training accreditation authority for NSW with responsibility for monitoring quality prevocational education and training for all NSW prevocational trainees in their first two postgraduate years.

HETI also supports the JMO Forum of NSW which provides an opportunity for JMOs to network and share innovations relating to prevocational supervision, education and training, accreditation and welfare, and advise the NSW Prevocational Training Council.