Health and Me

Introducing Colleen Dunne, Principal Advisor - Te Aho o Te Kahu | Cancer Control Agency

Navigating Career Transitions in Healthcare

Could you tell us about your career journey and what led you to consider a change?

I found myself at a crossroads after a decade as a physiotherapist. I had completed a master’s in public health, and I was exploring new projects, but my career was firmly rooted in physio since I left school. It wasn’t until I stumbled upon an email about Wahine Connect that I considered something different. I met with several mentors, including Laura, who had a similar background in physio and public health. This connection opened up a world of possibilities.

It sounds like Laura played a crucial role in your transition. Could you elaborate on that?

Absolutely. Laura was a pivotal figure for me. She understood the path I was on because she had walked it herself. I was unsure about what non clinical roles entailed and whether I could succeed in them. Laura reassured me, explaining her day-to-day work and the skills needed. She also helped me revise my CV, which was heavily focused on clinical experience.

How did your prospects change with that feedback, and what impact did that have?

Quite significantly. Laura provided feedback on my CV, and helped me translate my clinical experience into terms that resonated with nonclinical roles, like project management. We also worked on my cover letter to emphasize my strengths rather than expressing humility or doubt. These adjustments made a huge difference; after revising my CV, I finally started getting interviews. Ultimately with her guidance, I applied for and landed a job outside of clinical practice.

How has your experience with Wahine Connect influenced your approach to mentoring others?

It’s been incredibly fulfilling. I’ve used the lessons I learned to help friends transition from clinical roles to government jobs. I’ve helped them revise their CVs, just as Laura did for me. It’s amazing to see the impact a little guidance can have on someone’s career.

What advice would you give to others in healthcare considering a similar change?

I’d say don’t be afraid to explore your options, even if you’re content in your current role. Talk to people who’ve made the transition you’re considering. Prepare your questions, but also be open to learning from the conversations. You never know what opportunities might arise from these discussions.

Are you still in contact with your Wāhine Connect mentor/s?

Yes, I still see Laura, and we catch up when we can. I’m not in touch with the other mentors as much, but they were all very supportive during my transition.

How has your perception of mentoring changed since you’ve become a mentor yourself?

I’ve realized how easy it can be to make a big difference in someone’s career. Helping others navigate their paths and offering advice is rewarding, and I’m always ready to point them towards programs like Wahine Connect for additional support.

Medicine and Me

Introducing Genevieve Ostring- Paediatrician at Waitemata District Health Board.

What led you to pursue a career in medicine?

I had seen family members working in the health profession, and I wanted to follow in their footsteps.  I considered a wide range of professions that could do this - including physiotherapy (as I love physical activity) and teaching. However, after talking to various people, I decided that medicine was likely to give me the opportunity to consider a wide range of "ways" of helping others - from the individual to wider policy affecting communities, to mentoring junior doctors.  This has certainly turned out to be true in my working life - for which I am very thankful.

What tips do you have for those just starting out in their career?

 Do not race to the finish line, take your time figuring out what you truly are interested in and what fits with your life values and goals. Once you do make that decision though, put all your efforts into finishing your training as fast as you can. The best advice given to me as a young doctor was "whatever you do will ultimately become routine and therefore a little boring, make sure you always have something new to think about and learn to keep you interested". This has worked extremely well for me - from becoming a general paediatrician, adding in subspecialty training, then adding in a focus on supporting and advocating for doctors training in paediatrics.

What do you do to maintain a healthy work-life balance?

 I have learned the utter importance of knowing what is important to me with my values, versus what is important to others or an organisation I work for. Sometimes these values align, but not always. And when they do not align - and I do not stay true to myself -  that is when I start having problems with my work-life balance. My family and my children are of utmost importance to me - I find that if the choices I make reflect this, I am much happier. I know that I need time in nature - preferably skiing, mountain biking, hiking or kayaking, and that I need to schedule in time for me to do things like that.

Why do you think Wāhine Connect is important for women working in medicine?

Relationships are everything, but we end up so busy in medicine both doing our job, but also at times “competing” against each other for marks (getting into medical school), jobs (as medical students), popular jobs (speciality training) and so on – we forget to just sit down and talk to each other.  I have found it incredibly humbling to realise how many of us struggle with the same issues, and that just talking with someone else helps you to realise you are not alone.  I wish I had learned that years and years ago when I was training.

Health and Me

Introducing Jane George- Director of Allied Health, Scientific and Technical at West Coast District Health Board.

What led you to pursue a career in medicine?

 My first health career was as a volunteer ambulance officer, having been a cadet in high school. I was then employed to work as an ambulance officer in their communications centre, and quickly got bored on my night shifts! So I started browsing the university brochures and ultimately settled on papers that led me to my Social Work and Psychology qualifications.

What tips do you have for those just starting out in their career>

For any health professional just starting out, I would really encourage you to make friends across the different parts of health, not just your own profession or service area. Our new grads often end up flatting together and socialising outside of work. There's a bunch of evidence about the positive impact of having mates at work, and when they see the system in different ways to you, that helps you to develop a broader and less biased perspective for your own practice.

 What do you do to maintain a healthy work-life balance?

Living on the West Coast during the week provides loads of opportunities to get outdoors which is really important for my well-being. I also love to go tramping around New Zealand when I can with friends on weekends. I spend most other weekends in the city, and the drive across the alps at the end of each week allows me to leave any work 'worries' behind, for me to pick up again when I head back to work if I need to. This strategy has served me really well over the years.

Why do you think the  Wāhine Connect programme is a valuable resource for women working in medicine?

One of the things I love about the Wāhine Connect programme is how it gives health professionals the opportunity to connect with other women and learn from each other; whether it's those with more years of experience, those new to the practice, or across different professions and disciplines, we all have something to learn and something to offer.

Medicine and Me

Introducing Dr. Amiria Katherine Lynch- Paediatric Surgeon.

What led you to pursue a career in medicine?

 A school counsellor told me to think about law or medicine. Law seemed dull, so medicine it was.

At the time, I didn't know anyone working in medicine and had only seen a GP once. I really had no idea what I was getting into. I thought I would graduate after my 6-year degree as a specialist; let's just say it was quite a shock when I got to clinical years only to find out that was just the start, mainly as I chose one of the most extended training specialities. Before this, I thought about studying to be a kindergarten teacher. I am now a Paediatric surgeon...hey, at least I'm still working with kids!

What tips do you have for those just starting out in a career in medicine?

Keep looking to find the corner of medicine that you fit into.  If you are lucky enough to find the job you love and are passionate about, all the hurdles to get there are manageable.  If you don't get it right, then be brave and look again.  It is ok to have medicine as a job rather than a vocation; allow yourself to pursue a passion outside of work.  And if you want to be a surgeon, and you are not a white male, then come on in.  We are ready to help you get there!

 What do you do to maintain a healthy work-life balance?

I am a surgeon with a surgeon partner, and we have 4 kids aged between 2 and 8. I prefer not to think of it as balance; that makes it sound like I have to lose some of one to improve the other.  We have one life. I try to make sure that work and life outside of that both have the space they need. We both work less than typical full-time surgeons, and we have careful rosters to avoid clashes of on-call. My partner and I share all the domestic duties. It can be a challenge to ensure that everyone's needs are being met.  Did I mention I'm trying to finish my Masters of Surgical Education too?

Why do you think the  Wāhine Connect programme is a valuable resource for women working in medicine?

Women still face so many challenges just to get their voices heard.  Being able to share other peoples experiences can inspire and challenge you to reach even higher.  Knowing that there are people to support you who have seen similar challenges makes a massive difference.  And for those of us getting older and maybe wiser, seeing these amazing young women ready to take on the world is truly inspiring.

Medicine and Me

Introducing Dr Marion Leighton - MBBS, MRCP, FRACP, PGDipClinEd.

Dr Leighton graduated from medical school in Newcastle-on-Tyne in the UK in 1998 and gained her MRCP (Edinburgh) before moving to New Zealand. She completed her advanced training here and became a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP). She completed a Post-Graduate Diploma in Clinical Education at Auckland University. 

Marion has practiced as a Consultant Physician at Wellington Hospital since 2007. She has taken leadership roles in clinical governance, laboratory testing and the development of clinical IT systems. 

Marion continues to work in Acute and General Hospital Medicine, she holds an additional post in palliative care at Mary Potter Hospice, Wellington and has done since 2011. She is a clinical lecturer with the University of Otago Medical School teaching undergraduate medical students.

Marion is also part of the Wāhine Connect matching band working with us to ensure we are connecting mentees with mentors that are best placed to support. 

What led you to pursue a career in medicine?

Curiosity, my love of being with people, the intellectual challenge of working out what's wrong and making a difference every day.

Working in Medicine allows me to live my values of community, integrity, equity. 

What do you do to maintain a healthy work-life balance?

Community work, zero waste, time banking, charity, vegan catering, Quaker meetings, mentoring others, peace and climate activism, creating recipes and writing a health and nutrition blog. 

 I enjoy getting out and being in nature, tramping and leading a tramping group.

Advocacy is a big passion of mine, lobbying local and national government on the impacts of health transport.

Te Reo Māori and psychology relevant to medicine are favoured learning areas and playing scrabble with my mother who is living abroad.

All of these contribute to giving me balance and fulfilment.

What tips do you have for those just starting out in a career in medicine? 

You need to love health, to be curious about disease and people and want to make the world better through healthcare. Otherwise, you'll burn out. 

Base your decision on values. If you want money, intellectual stimulation, status etc - there are lots of other jobs you can do.  

Why do you think the  Wāhine Connect programme is a valuable resource for women working in medicine?

Connecting with others helps us realise we are not alone and that many before us have been through similar situations.

It enables women to connect with different mentors at different stages of their careers. I love both the Journey and Jump programmes that Wāhine Connect offer.  

Sometimes you need a long term mentoring relationship and sometimes just some sound advice and Wāhine Connect can facilitate that. 

The Benefits of Mentoring.

Consider these reasons and say “yes” to becoming a Wāhine Connect Mentor.

We've come a long way!

Wāhine Like Me

Wanting to pass the clinical exam while on maternity leave was the incentive that paediatric trainee, Latitia Patel needed to apply as a mentee. Spoiler alert - she passed (whoop whoop!), and through our mentorship process gained confidence managing all her commitments. Also, little known fact, she is married to Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. Kind of.

KŌRERO with Latitia Patel

Paediatric trainee

Hello Latitia. Can you briefly tell us a bit about yourself?

I am a paediatric trainee, currently based at Palmerston North Hospital, and married to a general surgery trainee. We are currently in the process of moving DHBs annually for his training. We also have a 19 month old, MJ. 

What made you apply for a women only mentorship programme?

I was on maternity leave with a new baby, contemplating how to go about studying for my second attempt at the clinical exam. I decided I wanted to find a formalised mentor/mentee relationship to help hold myself accountable throughout my journey as I knew that would aid my success.

Have you found the process easy?

Yes. The process is explained so clearly, regular reminders, and resources from Wāhine Connect mean it’s so simple to keep on track and make progress towards goals. The flexibility really helped with the mentee mentor relationship.

What stopped you looking for a mentor prior to joining wahine connect?

I wouldn’t have known where to start. It’s a daunting process finding someone willing to act as a mentor. I would’ve hated to think I was asking too much of someone, or putting someone on the spot. The matching process takes away all that anxiety. 

What would a meeting with your mentor mostly look like?

Our meetings were held over Zoom as we were based in different cities. I usually had MJ with me, and she’d love to have a chat too. Between Zoom meetings, we would email and I would keep my mentor updated on my goals and what I had been doing to progress through them. 

What difference do you perceive your learning, from mentoring, has made within the workplace?

I think I’ve become more confident in my abilities and less apologetic for having commitments outside of work. 

Other than cognitive and skill-based learning, what else have you developed? Any personal learning etc?

I’ve learnt a lot about myself, and how to balance my career aspirations with family life. 

What has been the greatest benefit to being a mentee in the programme so far?

Passing the exam? (Just kidding…) I have learnt so much about myself and how capable I am at juggling work, motherhood, and relationships. Having someone who has had similar experiences to bounce ideas off and gain advice from was invaluable. 

What would be your top tip for getting the most out of the process?

Be open with your mentor about your goals and what you want from the process. Also, be flexible. You might be surprised about what you gain from the wealth of information your mentor is sure to possess. 

What would you like the rest of 2021 to have in store for you?

Last year I had a baby, started my MPH and completed my RACP exams (in that order). This year I’d like a bit more time for rest and relaxation please. 

Favourite read? I’m currently addicted to the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch.

Podcast picks? The West Wing Weekly looks back at the TV series and links it into the current American political climate, and Happier by Gretchen Rubin has tips and tricks to make life a bit “happier”. 

Who would play you in a movie of your life? My husband says Anna Kendrick. He’d like to be played by The Rock.