Becoming a rural generalist GP takes many years of hard work and dedication, and Dr Vanessa Hewitt is excelling as she works towards that goal.

Dr Hewitt, who is training to become a rural generalist GP at the Ochre Medical Centre in Grafton, has been named joint winner of GP Synergy’s North Coast Registrar of the Year, recognising her commitment to quality general practice education and training.

Originally from Sydney, Dr Hewitt is training on the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) rural generalist training pathway to better support rural communities with a mix of general practice and additional skills.
As part of her training, Dr Hewitt also works in the emergency department at Grafton Base Hospital and enjoys teaching and mentoring medical students.

“I feel very proud to have won this award as an ACRRM rural generalist trainee in the Clarence Valley,” Dr Hewitt said.

“I’d like to thank the GP Synergy support staff who’ve worked tirelessly to help me get this far.

“I am also very grateful to my local GP supervisors Dr Cathryn Amey in Casino and Dr Nick Cooper at Ochre Medical Centre in Grafton, and a number of people in Grafton Base Hospital including Dr William Davies.

“I’d also like to thank Joanne Chad, Coordinator of the Clarence Valley Regional Training Hub.”
Dr Hewitt is looking forward to spending 12 months working in the Paediatric Department at Grafton Base Hospital next year to complete her training.

“There is a long wait list to see a Paediatrician so with these additional skills I hope I can make a contribution to my community,” she said.
Mrs Georgina van de Water, CEO of local general practice education and training provider GP Synergy, said during their three-to-four-year journey to become a specialist GP, GP registrars make a significant contribution to primary healthcare provision in local communities.

“GP registrars have undertaken more than 213000 consultations across the North Coast training region in the first half of this year alone,” Mrs van de Water said.

“GP Synergy is delighted to recognise Dr Hewitt as joint winner of the 2021 Registrar of the Year for North Coast, for commitment and excellence during her GP training.

“With more than 200 registrars currently training in accredited general practices across the North Coast region, Dr Hewitt’s achievement is certainly something to be proud of.”

GP Synergy is the leading provider of general practice training, funded by the Australian Government to deliver vocational GP training to doctors seeking to specialise as general practitioners in NSW and ACT.