FOR the past five years Anthony Fitch has remained focused on delving into the anatomy of the eye.

The Trinity Beach resident is one of 38 interns who this week started orientation at Cairns Base Hospital.

With a background in bio-medical science and orthoptics, the 26-year-old said he lookedforward to treating a broad range of patients during his 12-month internship.

"I was born and raised in Cairns and lived here until I was 13 ... Now I've finished (university) I thought I'd like to come back home," he said.

"I chose Cairns because it has a good reputation among doctors, in terms of education they provide their junior doctors, and there is a broad range of patients you attend to, from Papua New Guinea to Chillagoe and south to the Tully region."

Fellow intern Alia Kaderbhai, 29, was inspired to returnto university to study medicine after previously working as a speech pathologist at the hospital.

Ms Kaderbhai said she wanted to keep her options open in the next 12 months before deciding to specialise.

"I moved over to Western Australia about six years ago to do medicine and now I'm back again," she said.

"There certainly have been times when I have questioned my decision as a student, having no money and starting again at the bottom, but I think it's never a waste and you're always expanding your knowledge and advancing in other ways."

About 39 per cent of the new interns studied medicine at James Cook University and will experience placements in the emergency department and the surgical, orthopaedic, oncology, paediatrics and medical wards.

NEW CAIRNS.COM.AU COMMENT POLICY
We welcome your comments on this story. Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Comments submitted without a full name and suburb/location will not be considered for publication. Please read our full comment policy and publication guidelines.

Share this article