Horsham teacher takes up the stethoscope

A former Horsham teacher has returned to the study books but this time she has much bigger ambitions.

For two decades Sonja Barlow taught English and other subjects at Wimmera secondary schools and overseas, but she always had a yearning to study medicine. A new opportunity through Deakin University and Grampians Health has now helped make that possible.

Growing up in neighbouring Murtoa, Sonja attended Murtoa College and chose a career in teaching despite always having a keen interest in being a doctor. After marrying and starting her own family, Sonja had let the ‘doctor dream’ go thinking it could never be.

Sonja said Deakin’s Doctor of Medicine – Rural Training Stream opened up the possibility of studying medicine and together with a workplace change, it pushed her to consider a new career.

“I thought if I’m going to study medicine it needed to be now because it’s a pretty big undertaking,” Sonja said.

“So I threw my hat into the ring and I was lucky enough that Deakin University offered me a place with a Rural Training Stream they were piloting.

“The program encourages rural people to stay rural while they studied medicine and it took away a lot of the barriers that were preventing me from applying in the past. I’ve been able to stay in my community and study medicine for the last three years which is amazing.”

Sonja was part of the first intake for the new rural program which allowed students to study online for the first two years while attending weekly classes at Deakin’s Ararat campus. Now in her third year, Sonja has been able to work almost exclusively at Wimmera Base Hospital and Lister House/Horsham Medical Group.

“Studying and raising two daughters is a bit of a juggle but my mother and my husband Luke have been an amazing support throughout,” she said.

“Until I started studying medicine, I didn’t realise what a commitment it was and just how much people give of themselves to be doctors. I’ve really enjoyed it though, especially this third year because the first two years are mostly non-clinical and there is a lot of online studying doing tutorials and only a little bit of practical.

"The third year feels more like an apprenticeship where you are more hands-on and working under supervision and you get all those amazing opportunities to take your skills from the classroom to reality.

“During the first year I went through a period of ‘what am I doing and when can I get back to teaching?’ and then somewhere in the second year I realised that I can actually do this. I started to feel more confident.

“It was the crew that I would meet once a week at the satellite campus in Ararat to do the practical work, that made me realise we were all in the same boat.”

The Rural Communities program for third year students spending 12 months at WBH is proving a winner and now Deakin and Grampians Health are extending that program to offer a fourth year at Horsham. Deakin Medical Student Coordinator at WBH Deidre Rennick said the additional year had opened the door for Sonja and others to take advantage.

“It’s also inspiring other Wimmera people to consider a career in rural medicine,” Ms Rennick said.

“The icing on the cake will be when we can offer continuity into internship so students can really ‘train in place’ through to a medical degree. I’m hopeful we will be able to organise that for Sonja in 2028 as a permanent program.”

Sonja said the fact that she had not had to move anywhere to study had been the only reason her dream had become achievable.

“It’s been fantastic for me. I wouldn’t have been able to board and set up a second home somewhere without taking a year off to set up financially and with a young family, that wouldn’t happen,” she said.

“I’m hoping to stay in Horsham and work so for me it is the ideal situation but I’ve got to pass the third year first.”

Sonja said studying was a full-time undertaking, soaking up much of her day and her only release from it was her ‘after hours’ job as an aerobics instructor at Horsham’s YMCA.

It gives her a change of pace and financial support.

Her advice to others considering the rural medicine program is to be completely committed.

“With medicine, you really need to be all-in because it is really tough. I have to hustle to keep up because I don’t come from a clinical or science background but once you get through the first two years and start working on the floor in ED and the acute areas, you soon know why you did the hard work.”

Sonja said while she has worked almost completely in Horsham, she recently completed a small stint at Royal Children’s Hospital and really enjoyed that opportunity.

“I like the idea of eventually being a GP in Horsham with a particular interest in women’s health and children’s health but I have also really loved working in the ED at Horsham. The team environment there is inspiring and there’s always something happening,” she said.

“That’s probably been one of my favourite roles this year.

“I have really appreciated the support from the hospital staff – the doctors, nurses, allied health staff and the support staff/orderlies who have taken the time to teach me and point me in the right direction. That’s what makes it special.”

Grampians Health Chief Operating Officer Ben Kelly congratulated Sonja on her new career goal and welcomed the extra year of local placement through Deakin.

“This collaboration has been an outstanding result, and Grampians Health will continue to support medical training close to home wherever it is possible,” Mr Kelly said.