Stawell podiatrist takes big step

Stawell Podiatrist Andrew Nashed is taking a big step in his medical career as he studies to become a GP. 

Grampians Health is working with Mr Nashed to help him complete as much of his placement work as possible at its Stawell campus and at its medical centre. 

Mr Nashed has almost finished his first year of studies at Deakin University in Ararat and has already completed several placements including a day placement at Stawell under the guidance of Grampians Health Radiographer Sky Yang. 

Mr Nashed said he was loving the opportunity to study within his local area. 

“At the moment I am based at the university in Ararat one day a week and then four days studying at home,” Mr Nashed said. 

“Next year I will have more parallel sessions with the doctors at Stawell Medical Centre and I hope to do my third-year rural placement with Grampians Health Stawell, where my wife Bec works as a theatre nurse.” 

Mr Nashed said his first year of study was mainly theory-based learning. 

“Currently I am covering abdomen conditions and assessment so being able to come into the radiology area for a day placement helped me to consolidate the theory to real life,” he said. 

“I found it really interesting and helpful and it was great that Mr Yang was able to help further my knowledge.” 

Mr Nashed has also worked placements at Grampians Health Stawell, Macpherson Smith Care Community, Stawell Medical Centre and Community Services-Allied Health Occupational Therapy. 

Grampians Health Clinical Support Educator for the medical students, Shev Healey, said it was important to be able to support Mr Nashed. 

“Andrew lives in Stawell with his family, and his wife works at the hospital and hopefully he will eventually be practicing here as a GP which would be the best outcome for our community,” Ms Healey said. 

“Grampians Health supports medical students every year and my role is to support the third-year medical students with their learning as well as provide tutorial sessions for them. 

“We support them within their placement of clinical hours across the Stawell campus, and we’ve added in the ability to have the first-year medical students complete a four-hour contact session,” she said. 

Grampians Health Chief Operating Officer Ben Kelly said his team would support Mr Nashed at every opportunity. 

“Grampians Health has several clinicians on staff who are working and studying to become future doctors for our region, including two nurses at the Horsham campus,” Mr Kelly said. 

“We are committed to empowering our workforce to be ambitious and innovative and we look forward to the day when these team members are GPs treating and caring for their own community members.”