An interest in rural health, developed while at university, set Cowra GP Dr Teena Downton on a path to becoming a rural GP obstetrician.
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Dr Downton is based at the Cowra Medical Centre in Kendal Street.
Dr Downton was the second Cowra doctor to receive major recognition in a week when she was named the 2018 recipient of the GP Synergy Dr Jeremy Bunker Outstanding Achievement Award.
The award was presented at a ceremony in Dubbo hosted by general practice training provider GP Synergy.
Earlier in the week Dr Louise Baker was named winner of the ACRRM-RDAA Peter Graham ‘Cohuna’ Award for 2018.
The Peter Graham ‘Cohuna’ Award is the highest honour that can be bestowed by the rural doctor community presented jointly by the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) and the Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA.
Dr Downton’s award recognises a GP registrar in training in NSW and ACT who has applied themselves to benefit general practice education and training, as well as the wider community.
GP Synergy CEO, John Oldfield, congratulated Dr Downton on her achievement.
“GPs like Dr Downton, who in addition to their GP training gain additional specialised skills in areas such as obstetrics, are directly working towards better meeting the needs of rural communities.
“Given Dr Downton’s additional activities as an advocate for rural health care, she is a worthy recipient of the award,” Mr Oldfield said.
After spending the last three years of her training in Cowra, Dr Downton who is now a fully-fledged GP, has plans to stay on in town.
“I decided to become a GP in my junior doctor years as I felt that it would offer me a challenging and interesting career where every day would be different, and I’d be able to learn something new every day.
“I then chose to train in Western NSW because it offered the greatest options for rural training.
“I have been lucky to be able to learn from, and work with, some excellent mentors and supervisors who have been supportive of my goal of becoming a GP obstetrician.
“I’ve been able to maintain my emergency and obstetric skills by working as a visiting medical officer at Cowra Hospital, in addition to working in community general practice.
“Cowra has also offered a great lifestyle, I’ve enjoyed meeting people through park run, soccer and playing in a folk band.”
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