Rural Medicine

The MDRS includes clinical opportunities which aim to provide students with the practical experience required for the workplace. The program focuses on student-centred learning with longitudinal development of the knowledge, skills and personal and professional attributes required of a doctor. Topics cover areas such as interaction between doctor and patient, knowledge of health and illness, health professions and society, socially responsible health practice, clinical research foundations, and advanced studies.

Rurally embedded work integrated learning clinical placements are offered as a continuum over year 3 and 4 with the addition of tertiary experiences to ensure preparedness for internship. Students undertake supervised experience within Medicine, Surgery, Anaesthesia, Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, General Practice and Psychiatry over Years 3 and 4.

You will participate in a range of activities in rural clinical settings, attend lectures and tutorials and undertake self-directed learning. Students will focus on acquiring important knowledge and principles in all clinical disciplines, developing their ability to diagnose and manage common clinical problems.

You will gain competence in communication and patient interaction skills, clinical skills and minor procedures within disciplines. Clinical skills learned in previous years are extended and applied within rural clinical settings and new skills and procedures are developed. Teaching and learning takes place within structured clinical skills workshops, bedside and ambulatory teaching and individually supervised sessions. Students will demonstrate self-regulated learning development across the program.

It is hoped that through experiencing life as a rural clinician, you will appreciate the many opportunities rural lifestyle has to offer, while developing an understanding of the health needs of rural communities.

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. If unforeseen or exceptional circumstances arise that prevent a student from fulfilling the requirements of the MDRS program, 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.