The doors are not yet open on the Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital, but Sunshine Hospital is already reaping rewards.
Of Western Health’s 2019 class of medical interns, about a dozen cited the new hospital as a reason for applying to intern with the health service.
Doctor Emma McLaughlin is starting her career at Western Health and said it’s a dream come true.
“I’m very excited to be here. I’ve gone a bit of a roundabout way to get here. A lot of people go straight into medicine out of school and I went through the post graduate course at Melbourne Uni.
“It was a bit of a long way of doing it, but I wouldn’t change it because it gave me the opportunity to come here to Western Health and Western Clinical School.”
Dr McLaughlin said the soon-to-be-opened Joan Kirner Hospital also played a big part in her decision to join Western Health – she hopes to follow in her mother’s footsteps as an obstetrician.
“Obstetrics is something I’m pretty passionate about and Joan Kirner is certainly going to become a centre for excellence for that over the coming years,” Dr McLaughlin said.
While Dr McLaughlin’s mother has inspired her career path, her father, Associate Professor Stephen McLaughlin, has been a surgeon for 32 years at the health service.
Dr McLaughlin had her first rotation with her father last week. Professor McLaughlin said it was a thrill to be working alongside his daughter.
“It’s great to be part of her journey. She’s done it all on her own – her mother has probably had more influence on her career path and getting into medicine than I have,” he said.
“It’s a tough gig obstetrics, but I think she’s got the necessary skills to cope with that.”
Professor McLaughlin said the health service had undergone a massive positive transformation during his tenure.
“Western Health has changed enormously … It’s trebled in size, all the specialties are represented except for cardiac surgery, it’s a phenomenal place to work,” he said.
“It’s been an honour to have worked here.”
