Dr Jess article in The Pulse

Dr Jessica Chua recently worked in central Ukraine as part of Medecines Sans Frontieres humanitarian efforts. Dr Jess has also worked for Medecines Sans Fronieres in Gaza, Syria, Iraq, Mosul, Afghanistan and Yemen in the past.

She is one courageous person and we are so proud that she is part of our practice.

This is a copy of a story which appears in the September 2022 issue of The Pulse about Dr Jess’s time in the Ukraine. Click here to read the story

Covid-19: Please wear a mask at the clinic

Patients must wear a mask when they are attending face to face appointments in the surgery.

If you are waiting for the results of a COVID-19 test, or have a sore throat, cough and or temperature, DO NOT COME TO THE PRACTICE.

Please call us instead on 4455 1291 or book online for a phone appointment.

Masks are a helpful addition in the fight against COVID-19 if used correctly. NSW Health strongly encourages people to wear them when unable to physically distance, particularly in indoor settings, to keep everyone safe.

When wearing a face mask, it is important to use it properly by:

  • washing or sanitising your hands before putting it on or taking it off
  • ensuring the mask covers your nose and mouth and fits snugly under your chin, over the bridge of your nose and against the sides of your face
  • refraining from touching the front of your mask while wearing or removing it
  • not allowing the mask to hang around your neck or under your nose
  • not reusing single-use masks; wash and dry reusable masks after use and store in a clean, dry place.

The effectiveness of different types of cloth mask in blocking respiratory droplets varies, depending on the weave and the number of layers (at least 2–3 layers are needed). They are increasingly less effective as they become increasingly damp.

Masks should not be worn by young children or anyone who has trouble breathing or who is unable to remove the mask themselves without assistance.

Ulladulla Medical Clinic welcomes their new medical student for 2022-2023

My name is Annabelle Carter and I am currently studying a Doctor of Medicine at the University of Wollongong. I have just commenced Phase 3 of the degree whereby students are given the opportunity to spend 12 months becoming exposed to practicing medicine in a rural community. I was lucky enough to be placed in the Milton-Ulladulla hub with placements at the Milton-Ulladulla hospital and Ulladulla Medical Clinic.

Having grown up in Milton, I always endeavoured to return to the region and help replenish the medical workforce. My clinical and personal experiences have exposed to the inherent inequities facing rural towns and motivates me to become a Rural GP with training in Critical Care specialties. It is an honour to give back to the community I grew up in through delivering culturally safe care and be an active, positive influence. It has been interesting to watch the evolution of Milton over the years and I am thrilled to immerse myself in the wonderful community again.

I attended Milton Public School and Ulladulla High School with my final years spent at Frensham School in the Southern Highlands. I then moved to Sydney to study a Bachelor of Medical Science (Class I Honours in Cell Pathology) at The University of Sydney. Here I received an Education Grant from the Heart Research Institute to assist in investigating improved medical devices for the prevention of heart disease. I started studying Medicine at UOW in 2020 which has been incredibly exciting and challenging.

From a young age, I always enjoyed working in local businesses. Over the past few years, I volunteered with St John First Aid Ambulance and developed education programs with the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience. I am a very active person and have been heavily engaged in local and competitive sport such as Touch Football, Netball and Basketball. Whenever I get free time, I try to get out to the ocean for a surf or swim and enjoy bush walking.

I am excited to be able to return to Milton-Ulladulla to broaden my knowledge base, experience rural medicine and stay connected thereby investing in my commitment to this wonderful community. I attribute my sense of value for community and teamwork to the incredible role models in my life, my family – my parents, Amanda & Stephen, my sister, Sally, and my brothers, Hugh & Henry.

Katharine gains regional experience

She already boasts an impressive list of qualifications, but medical student Katharine Osborne wants to add regional medicine to her diverse skill set.

A Phase 3 Medical Student with the University of Wollongong Rural School of Medicine, Katharine has joined the Ulladulla Medical Clinic team where she will spend 12 months training in a rural general practice setting under the supervision of Dr Paul Rothe.

Katharine will also spend time at the Milton-Ulladulla Hospital where she hopes to broaden her skill base, including anaesthetics.

A contingent of medical students are training at local medical centres, led by Regional Academic Leader with University of Wollongong Dr Matthew Allan, also from the Ulladulla Medical Clinic.

Katharine is considering a career in surgery, especially orthopaedics, dermatology and reconstructive/plastics, and is also interested in infectious diseases, immunology, rheumatology and paediatrics.

She comes to Ulladulla with a host of qualifications under her belt, including a Diploma of Music (classical studies, oboe) from the ANU School of Music, Canberra; a BSc (Hons class 1) Microbiology and biochemistry, minor in psychology from Sydney University where she gained Honours in honey bee behavioural ecology; and has suspended her PhD (Medicine) in Cancer Immunology at Sydney University and RPAH while she completes her MD training.

Katharine has published four peer review journal articles and worked as a medical research scientist at the Centenary Institute in Sydney for two years where she studied how the microbiome in the human gut can impact our health, and how nutritional biochemistry can be used to help stop cell growth in cancers.

After living and studying in the city, Katharine is enjoying spending time in the bush and at the beach, where she likes to hike, kayak and cycle. She also loves reading, art, global economics and health, as well as baking, astronomy and astrobiology.

People will have an opportunity to meet Katharine at the Ulladulla Medical Clinic where she is looking forward to meeting new patients and gaining experience in general practice in a rural area where every day offers up a new challenge.