24 October 2024

Doctor's Legacy of Education and Innovation

After three decades of dedicated service at Townsville University Hospital, Dr Robert Norton has retired, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy in the fields of microbiology and infectious diseases. As the Clinical Director of Microbiology, Dr Norton has been at the forefront of diagnosing and combating some of North Queensland’s most challenging health issues.   Beyond his clinical work, one of his greatest passions has been mentoring the next generation of healthcare professionals, particularly junior doctors and medical students from James Cook University.  Dr Norton says the rewards of mentoring are twofold, allowing him to continue his own education while inspiring others.   "It is an opportunity for me to continue learning and to hopefully encourage the next generation to appreciate the importance of infectious diseases in our region," he says.  Throughout his career, Dr Norton has been deeply involved in various education events through the Northern Queensland Regional Training Hubs, including career fairs and pathology training information sessions.   He sees these activities as vital for sparking interest in careers in medicine, microbiology, and infectious diseases.   "They are very important," he says. "It’s an opportunity for our students to informally meet doctors in a variety of fields and to discuss what the job entails and, more importantly, whether it is for them." 

4 March 2024

Something in the Ayr

29 February 2024

Bridging the gap

27 February 2024

Adventure Calls in Tropical Island Paradise

23 February 2024

A warm welcome to Orthopaedics in the Tropics

Growing up in Western Australia, Indigenous doctor Tamika Ponton had not given much thought to a career in medicine let alone a competitive specialty pathway. But once she began the medical journey and got a taste for orthopaedics she was hooked. When she asked seasoned doctors where to pursue the specialty, one location came up repeatedly; Cairns, Far North Queensland. An ever-popular tourist destination, the tropical city has a strong and growing reputation for its outstanding training experience across a range of specialties like orthopaedics and cardiology. “Once I had settled on pursuing orthopaedics I began looking at the sites that have had a good reputation,” Dr Ponton says. “Every conversation seemed like it kept coming back to Cairns. Everyone had good things to say; the support, the extent of the training, the lifestyle.” After completing her internship year in WA, Dr Ponton made the move to Cairns Hospital to gain as much orthopaedic exposure as she could before applying for the program. “The junior doctor years before specialty training is about building up those skills for your chosen pathway. For me, it was about stepping up, being challenged to become a good all-rounded doctor,” Dr Ponton says. Dr Ponton says the Orthopaedics Department doctors have been extremely helpful in ensuring she gets the experience she needs to set her up for applying for the specialty pathway. “The scope of practice in orthopaedics in Cairns is really what drew me here in the first place. You see a lot of soft tissue and acute injuries, chronic arthritis and seasonal injuries given the tourist influx. Cairns is the first port of call for the region, and we are servicing a wide area of the Far North.”

23 February 2024

Going the distance