Caboolture Hospital feels like home

For new medical intern Dr Tim McErlane, Caboolture Hospital feels like home.

Tim was born at Caboolture Hospital in 1997. He grew up on Bribie Island and went to primary school on the island but was soon back in Caboolture, just across the road at St Columban’s College, for his high school years.

His undergraduate studies in human movement and nutrition sciences were at the University of Queensland. He subsequently went on to study medicine with Griffith as a part of their inaugural cohort at the Sunshine Coast site. He chose the Sunshine Coast to be closer to home.

For Tim, the decision was easy. Caboolture Hospital was his first choice. It feels like home.

“I wanted to immerse myself in an experience that I wouldn’t get at a tertiary hospital,” Tim said.

“So, when it came time to pick, places like Rockhampton, Caboolture, Mackay all crossed my mind, but the driving factor was being ‘home’ among close friends and family.

“It just felt much more natural. I did a two-month elective in the Emergency Department at Caboolture Hospital as a part of my medical degree which solidified the decision in my mind.

“The teams around the hospital – clinical, operational and professional have been great. It’s a very welcoming place to be.

“… I have seen many familiar faces – in the staff and in the patients.

“Friends from school, old family friends, acquaintances from local sporting clubs – I have had a few chats on the wards with patients and staff which I had met previously in other settings.”

Tim joined 16 other medical interns who started their medial career at Caboolture Hospital this year.

After an initial week completing an intensive orientation program, interns across Metro North hospitals embark on rotations in medicine, surgery, emergency medicine and additional elective terms in other specialised areas.

Overall, Metro North Health welcomed 174 junior doctors, which has bolster its medical workforce.