Name: Dr Elizabeth Martin
Position: General practitioner
Place of work: Toogood Medical Centre
Tell us about your role and what a typical day looks like?
I work four days a week at Toogood Medical Centre, which formed in February 2024 from Toogood Road Family Medical Centre and Abbott Medical Centre, Cairns.
I was the Clinical Lead during the transition and birth of the new centre, which was an exciting and interesting time. We passed our first accreditation and are proud of the beautiful clinic we’ve created.
I have stepped back from my roles as Medical Educator (previously with JCU), the After Hours GP Clinic at Ramsay Cairns Private, and my role as Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner at Cairns Hospital. I still enjoy being part of the team of supervisors at my clinic for our registrars, and being in a support role to the current Clinical Lead and our Practice Manager.
On the side, I like to support general practice with mentoring and advocacy.
A typical day starts with coffee and is a bit of a roller-coaster of problem solving and lots of lateral thinking.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
The relationships; with the patients and the people I work with. I love seeing the development of patients over time, and I love the variety in my work.
Is there a particular patient story or experience that has stuck with you?
There are many, many things that have stuck with me over my 30 years of seeing patients; that’s why I need yoga to calm my mind.
One that highlights our area and the resilience of far north people, is having a sudden blackout one afternoon. With the air conditioning and lights off, the clinic quickly heated up, and most patients were OK about rescheduling.
But one of my patients had driven two hours to have a skin excision from his face and didn’t want to reschedule. As our nurse hurried to pack all the vaccines in the eskies as per protocol, I asked the patient to hold a big torch up to his face, so I could see what I was cutting out.
Why do you choose to work in a regional, rural, or remote area?
My husband, Greg, came here in the late 80s/early 90s as a chef – and stayed. I met him in Melbourne, but quickly realised his heart was here. So, happy to have an adventure and in love, I followed him up here in 2000. I’m very glad to have spent the last 25 years here.
Compared to my Melbourne doctor friends, I’ve had such rich, interesting experiences, and many more opportunities.
The natural environment is amazing, and it’s been a great place to bring up our three sons.
What do you like to do outside of work when you are out and about in your community?
I like yoga, hanging out with fellow yogis, and catching up with friends – especially over coffee. I like food, travel, and reading. I like writing and have published in the past. I’d like to do more of all that.
Is there anything you would like to add?
I am a bit sad that general practice is crying out for support and is being neglected. I’ve seen so many times where people’s lives have been turned around by their relationship with or even just one interaction with a GP.
As one smart GP said to me: “We’re saving lives slowly.” GPs are in a unique position to care for the whole individual. I’ve loved being a GP and really liked being a medical educator and influencing the next generations of GPs.
But the GPs who are left, plus their amazing receptionists and nurses, are overwhelmed with the workload, and there are not many coming through to take their place.
That sounds very depressing; but I think good health is getting back to the basics of eating well, looking after our environment, moving our bodies, connection with community, and also having a good GP to visit.
Toogood Medical Centre
Toogood Medical Centre is a general practice in Woree, tucked behind Terry White Calanna Pharmacy on the corner of Toogood Road and Mulgrave Road. We have created a caring, nurturing centre that caters for everyone at all stages of their life. We are one of the many excellent GP practices that Cairns is lucky to have.
Health Workforce Spotlight: Nick Kenny
I enjoy being a part of our brilliant team and I am proud of the positive impact they have on the lives of many people who have limited access to health care.