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Grace Wang
Grace Wang
5th year medical student, University of Newcastle
My experience at the PIF Retreat was a wonderful 2 days of learning, connecting, and reflecting. Exposure to the field of psychiatry can be quite brief during medical school, and I found myself concluding my psychiatry placement in my 4th year with newfound excitement, but also with growing questions. The PIF Retreat was a way of developing my understanding of how a career within psychiatry could look, hearing directly from the experiences of various people in different stages of their career across Australia.
We were able to gain insight and tips into the training pathway, witness a collage of different subspecialties, and take part in engaging conversations and even a workshop. Following the talks, we were often able to take part in ‘speed networking’ where we were given the opportunity to introduce ourselves and ask specific questions to the speakers in a more intimate setting. It was particularly interesting to learn about the intersection of forensics and psychiatry and ponder upon philosophical problems. We were also exposed to emerging research, with a glimpse into clinical academic work in novel psychopharmacology (e.g. ketamine, psilocybin).
It was quite inspiring to see the emphasis on advocacy from all the speakers across both days, and we learnt about the possibility of using your training to work alongside organisations such as the World Health Organisation and within media. The need for change was highlighted again when we heard a talk from Ezra Burke, who gave us a much needed insight into the patient perspective, drawing upon their compelling lived experience to reflect the shortcomings of the Australian mental health care system. Beyond these talks, I enjoyed connecting with my peers, and making friends with other medical students and junior doctors whom I wouldn’t have met otherwise!
As a final year medical student, I have much more clarity on the steps that I can take to progress towards my future career goal. The retreat has broadened my lens of the possibilities within the psychiatry field, and its overlap with other systems. It has also been a reminder to be inquisitive and to continue to advocate for others.
My experience at the PIF Retreat was a wonderful 2 days of learning, connecting, and reflecting. Exposure to the field of psychiatry can be quite brief during medical school, and I found myself concluding my psychiatry placement in my 4th year with newfound excitement, but also with growing questions. The PIF Retreat was a way of developing my understanding of how a career within psychiatry could look, hearing directly from the experiences of various people in different stages of their career across Australia.
We were able to gain insight and tips into the training pathway, witness a collage of different subspecialties, and take part in engaging conversations and even a workshop. Following the talks, we were often able to take part in ‘speed networking’ where we were given the opportunity to introduce ourselves and ask specific questions to the speakers in a more intimate setting. It was particularly interesting to learn about the intersection of forensics and psychiatry and ponder upon philosophical problems. We were also exposed to emerging research, with a glimpse into clinical academic work in novel psychopharmacology (e.g. ketamine, psilocybin).
It was quite inspiring to see the emphasis on advocacy from all the speakers across both days, and we learnt about the possibility of using your training to work alongside organisations such as the World Health Organisation and within media. The need for change was highlighted again when we heard a talk from Ezra Burke, who gave us a much needed insight into the patient perspective, drawing upon their compelling lived experience to reflect the shortcomings of the Australian mental health care system. Beyond these talks, I enjoyed connecting with my peers, and making friends with other medical students and junior doctors whom I wouldn’t have met otherwise!
As a final year medical student, I have much more clarity on the steps that I can take to progress towards my future career goal. The retreat has broadened my lens of the possibilities within the psychiatry field, and its overlap with other systems. It has also been a reminder to be inquisitive and to continue to advocate for others.
