Congratulations to Geraldton-based Dr Revathy Carnagarin, the 2023 Newnham Fellow!
The late Dr Arthur Newnham and Mrs Mary Newnham gifted funds to the University of Western Australia in 1987 for the purpose of supporting professional development for rural doctors.
Today, the Dr Arthur and Mary Newnham Fellowship supports clinical education for rural doctors and positive public health outcomes in rural communities.
Their children, Dr Ian Newnham, Ms Helen Newnham, Professor John Newnham and Mrs Jill Morgan, are helping to realise their parents’ vision through the Fellowship.
Dr Carnagarin opens up about her career journey, plans for the Fellowship, and her passion for research and teaching below…
- Describe your current role and career path to date
I am a clinician scientist and medical officer at Geraldton Regional Hospital. I was born and raised in India and completed my undergraduate and masters degrees at Indian universities. I hold an MBBS from Pondicherry University, MS (By Research) in Molecular biology from Anna University, MD (Biochemistry) from Bharath University, and a PhD in Endocrinology from Curtin University.
My goal has always been to become a physician because I want to positively affect the world around me. My teachers recognised in me the essential characteristics of a good researcher and clinical teacher - diligence combined with intelligence. They encouraged me to pursue the field of medical teaching and research.
I started my MBBS with a government scholarship and during my first and second year of medical school I took a deep interest in disease mechanisms. This fired a strong interest in medical research. I later completed my clinical research training at the Harvard Medical School and joined the Dobney Hypertension Centre – Royal Perth Hospital Unit, School of Medicine UWA, as a post-doctoral clinical research fellow in 2017. I believe there is a greater potential benefit to mankind by being a dedicated medical researcher and a teacher than by being a physician alone.
- What do you like best about working in Geraldton?
I enjoy working in the Geraldton community because it reminds me of my hometown Pondicherry in India. I enjoy the variety of patients I see, the time spent with them and their families, the kindness of the Geraldton community, and the complete satisfaction of servicing this community.
- How will the Fellowship help advance your education?
I have come to appreciate that a career in clinical teaching and research is one of the basic keys to propagating knowledge and achieving good public health outcomes. Receiving the Newnham Fellowship to pursue a Masters in Health Professions Education will allow me to learn from innovative minds and grow my teaching skills.
- What are your plans beyond completing your Masters?
I have applied to the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) to become a rural generalist with academic practice as my advance specialisation. There is a dire need for good clinical teachers and researchers, especially in regional Australia, both to undertake research and to train the next generation in this vital discipline. I want to be one of those who makes a difference in this field. It is my initial goal to acquire the higher-level skills and knowledge to become an excellent teacher and ultimately to take up a lead position in a clinical organisation whilst teaching my peers.
I sincerely thank the Newnham family and the scholarship selection committee for giving me this opportunity.
Dr Revathy Carnagarin