Rural Medicine

Introduction to the rural learning experience

Begin your MD Rural Stream (MDRS) experience with the opportunity to learn more about South Australian regions where Flinders University have campuses and clinical learning opportunities. You will be provided with information about the Flinders MD program in a rural context, supported by rural academics, clinical educators, and professional staff.  

A chance to spend time with the MDRS cohort begins in the first year of the program with a week long immersion in your selected region where you will meet key staff, current students and develop an understanding about how your learning will be supported while getting to know the local area, health services and community.

As much as possible, MDRS students are allocated to a rural learning coach aimed at strengthening support for learning in the rural context.

Building on the year one rural experience, you will spend time in your respective rural learning communities with the MDRS cohort. Students have the opportunity to explore rural clinical learning environments, engage in the MD year two  curriculum while immersed in the rural context.

They also continue to develop their relationships with local learning, teaching and support staff. MDRS students are encouraged to select an Advanced Studies research project that is rurally focused and supervised. Flinders rural academics provide ongoing research projects and student supervision to ensure successive groups of medical students can contribute to a particular research topic. This will ultimately provide long-term findings and benefits for local communities, while offering students important insights int o the health needs of rural communities.

More information: Advanced studies webpage

This is an opportunity to spend your whole year three based in a rural learning community, an exciting  program based in the Riverland, Barossa Valley, Greater Green Triangle (GGT) or Hills/Mallee/Fleurieu (HMF) The opportunity to learn and consolidate skills aimed at preparing you for your Junior Doctor years are provided across years three and four of the MD program. The rural stream gives you access to supported learning with a hands on approach.  You will be immersed in rural general practice, local hospitals and health services to learn about the approaches to healthcare in context of smaller communities. Supervising doctors will provide you with patient exposure and allow participation in supervised procedural work. The consulting and treatment rooms of rural doctors surgeries will provide a vital opportunity for you to observe a wide variety of medical conditions. Clinical learning opportunities are supported by lectures, workshops and small group teaching throughout the year.

To understand the benefit, rewards and challenges of living and working in a rural context you will have the opportunity to meet a broad range of skilled clinicians who have actively chosen a career in rural medicine.

Students offered a place in the Flinders University MD Rural Stream (MDRS) cannot change their place or MDRS location once the course commences. The MDRS program requires the student to live and study in the MDRS region location they are allocated to in MD3. Students are also required to visit their MDRS regional location in year 1 and 2. Student learning is supported by rural academic and professional staff, located in one of the 5 rural campuses across SA. There are also opportunities for rural placement in year 4 of the MD and the Junior Doctor years. 

The University recognises that unforeseen or exceptional circumstances may arise that prevent students from fulfilling the requirements of the MDRS program. If such circumstances arise, the student will need to formally apply to have their existing conditions changed from when they were accepted into the Flinders University MD program.

See Guidelines for Change of Enrolment Conditions - Flinders University MD Rural Stream and Site Transfer Form for further information.

In year four, all MD students have the opportunity to undertake at least one six week rotation.

While opportunities are always increasing, rural rotations include general medicine, surgery, anaesthetics, psychiatry emergency or obstetrics/gynaecology in rural hospitals, Aboriginal health services and general practice.

Onsite rural clinicians provide structured teaching during these rotations. Virtual teaching and learning platforms are utilized to support the program.

Learning opportunities are provided through participation at clinical meetings, visits to relevant agencies and observation of experienced practitioners.

Areas of placement may include: