The opportunity to complete placements at Launceston General Hospital offered benefits both professional and personal for three couples, who are among the 36 interns commencing their orientation this week. 

Emily Baines and Kell Retchford; Emily Mackrill and Duncan Galloway; and Mrunmayee Bhalerao and Nick Moutsatsos all met their partners while studying medicine at the University of Tasmania in Hobart. 

For Ms Baines, having a partner alongside her who understood the demands of the job was a big plus. 

“I think it’s a really positive thing that UTAS has facilitated. You can put in couples applications for internships and also for clinical schools, so they don’t split you up, if they don’t have to,” she said. 

“I think it’s a really good thing, especially with the mental health issues surrounding medical professionals.

“It’s quite a demanding job with quite a steep learning curve.

“So knowing there is someone there to call for help is really important.”

This week the interns will be briefed on practice and procedure before commencing their year-long placement on Monday.

Comparing the experience to a learner driver progressing to P-plates, Mr Moutsatsos said becoming an intern was an exciting next step. 

“You have to get your hundred hours of driving to tick all the boxes – it is the same in medicine,” he said.

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