Mother of three enjoying GP training in Bundaberg

Dr Veronica Dodemaide is one of the Wide Bay regions newest registrars to commence specialist general practice training with James Cook University’s (JCU) General Practice Training program.

Dr Dodemaide’s grew up in a rural area outside of Gympie, and her first experience of Bundaberg was when she worked at the Bundaberg Hospital while studying medicine at the University of Queensland.

Dr Dodemaide says she enjoys the laid-back lifestyle that Bundaberg has to offer.

“I am not a city person” she says.

“I grew up on 12 acres as a child with farm animals, so the Bundaberg region seems perfect to me.”

“I plan to permanently settle here in Bundaberg as a GP,” says Dr Dodemaide from her training post at the Bundaberg Hospital.

A Mum to three young children, Dr Dodemaide says lifestyle reasons were an important factor in choosing to specialise in general practice, as it allows her to work more family-friendly hours.

Dr Dodemaide has interests in women’s health and chronic disease management, and is a strong believer in preventative medicine.

“I want to empower my patients to stay healthy and out of hospital, and to be able to understand the ins and outs of their own illnesses.  I think the onus is on the doctor to communicate well and listen.

“I like talking to patients and getting to know them.  I really value continuity of care and found the hospital placements I enjoyed the most were the ones with a discrete population of patients that I got to see regularly and know personally, and this is what I like about general practice.

“General Practice is an enormous specialty and promises lifelong learning opportunities. I am just looking forward to starting the journey.”