What started as a high school career day at Buderim Private Hospital in 2014 has come full circle for a former St John’s College Nambour student, Rees Telford, who is now completing a medical placement at the very hospital that first sparked his interest in healthcare.
Recalling that high school experience, Rees said: “We were all interested in health careers but this was the only opportunity where we got to see inside an actual hospital.”
That early exposure to the inner workings of hospital life planted a seed, leading him to pursue a career in medicine over law.
Now studying at The University of Sydney, Rees is back at Buderim Private Hospital for a hands-on anaesthetics elective and said the placement had been an enriching experience, offering practical skills in airway management and the chance to learn directly from Consultant Anaesthetists, Surgeons, and Cardiac Catheter Theatre staff.
“I’ve enjoyed being more hands-on and involved than expected,” he noted, grateful for the supportive environment and collaborative learning.
Although he’s beginning his medical career in Sydney, Rees’ heart remains on the Sunshine Coast. “All my friends and family are here,” he shared, expressing hopes to return to the region as he advances in his medical training.
The UnitingCare Clinical School offers medical students the opportunity to learn from and gain practical experience through UnitingCare’s network of not-for-profit private hospital in Queensland. Practical experience and on-the-job teaching play an important role in preparing medical students for their career post-medical school, and is made possible thanks to the strong teaching ethics and mentoring of our specialist and clinical teams.
Learn more about the UnitingCare Clinical School here.