Two new doctors with international backgrounds have been welcomed to Wingham.
Dr Sini Joseph and Dr Thaya Yogathasan joined Wingham Family Health Centre this month and are already delighting their new patients.
Dr Sini Joseph became a doctor in India and is a senior registrar. This means she has almost completed the Australian GP training program.
Before coming to Wingham Family Health Clinic, Sini lived for seven years in Sydney and a year in Taree, and is enjoying the move to the country.
“I really love Wingham. The warm village atmosphere and the strong sense of community has already impressed me,” she said.
“It’s such a relief after the hustle and bustle of city life.”
Sini especially enjoys country people and their more relaxed attitude.
“I’m looking forward to getting to know people better over this year.”
Sini enjoys the challenges of general practice and is particularly fond of paediatrics.
“My heart really is with children who come to the practice – children who are unwell or have troubling issues that need sorting out.”
Her colleague Dr Thaya Yogathasan is in her second term as a GP registrar. Dr Thaya is from a Sri Lankan background and has worked in a variety of settings since coming to Australia six years ago.
Her last GP training placement was in Taree, which she loved after working in Sydney, mostly at St Vincent’s Hospital. Thaya’s medical interests are in women’s health including family planning and obstetric care.
Dr Thaya is certainly enjoying Wingham.
“I feel so at home here,” she said. “Wingham Family Health Clinic is such a friendly practice. It is lovely to work in such a warm environment and all my patients have been so welcoming already.”
Thaya and her husband Yogan are currently living in Taree with their two children. Thaya is a keen reader and gardener, but leaves the cooking to Yogan.
“He’s a much better cook than me,” she said, “Especially of good traditional Sri Lankan food. I just leave it to him!”
Sini and Thaya join Dr Faiz Rasool who has been at the practice for the past year. Faiz is originally from Pakistan and before coming to Wingham was conducting cancer research at Harvard Medical School in the US. Faiz is married to a solicitor who works in Sydney so travels up to Wingham each week but enjoys his weekends with his two boys aged six and eight.
“This area is really special,” said Faiz yesterday in between patients. “I have settled in well and am looking forward to another year here.”
Faiz enjoys the whole spectrum of medical care involved in being a GP. He also loves a round of golf and plays off a handicap of 18.
Faiz’s patients here in Wingham testify to his brilliant mind and warm personality.
With three registrars Wingham Family Health Clinic is one of the leading teaching practices in the area. The clinic has been training doctors to become fully qualified as GPs for over a decade.
This year all three registrars are mentored by Dr Phil Rayson while his partner, Dr Bruce Stewart takes a year travelling with his wife, Di, and their daughters.
Bruce will be back in January 2011 after visiting the Vancouver Winter Olympics and friends in the UK.
In the meantime, Drs Amanda Brooks and Stephan Pluschke are still at Wingham and are well loved by their patients. Trish Jones and her team of nurses provide a daily nursing service as well.
Dr Phil Rayson said “We are very pleased to have Sini, Thaya and Faiz join us at Wingham Family Health Clinic. As one of the longer term, trusted practices in Wingham we are really happy to be able to provide our patients with some of the brightest registrars in NSW. Faiz and Sini are both here for the whole year which gives our patients a real sense of stability.”
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