#WeAreNorthern

Meet Abigail Popiel, Senior Emergency Registrar, Northern Health.

Q: Abi, could I start with your coffee order, please?
My coffee order is a small latte – very vanilla.

Q: Tell us about your professional journey at Northern Health
My professional journey at Northern Health started when I attended an Advanced Life Support (ALS) course in April 2024. I was on a training break at the time. The earliest available ALS slot in Melbourne was at NCHER, so even though I live in the East, I made my way out to Epping to attend. There I met one of the emergency consultants who works at the Northern, who convinced me to apply for a job for 2025. Since then, I have worked as a registrar in adult emergency for six months, paediatric emergency for three months, and anaesthetics for three months. I’m currently back in adult emergency.

Q: What do you enjoy most about working at Northern Health?
I have previously been an avid traveller, and working at Northern Health is truly like travelling the world. Here at Northern, there are people of all ethnicities, backgrounds, cultures and religions. Australians come in all different forms, and Northern Health feels like an extremely culturally safe place to practice. I am proud to work in such an environment.

Q: Describe Northern Health in one sentence.
Northern Health is a cultural melting pot and a true representation of the real Australia.

Q: How do you unwind after work?
I unwind after work by walking our beautiful dog Dora, reading, or eating out in one of the fantastic restaurants near our place.

Q: What is something that most people would not know about you?
I spent four years as a child living in Al Ain, an oasis city in the United Arab Emirates.

Q: Favourite destination to travel and why?
My favourite two destinations (because I can’t pick one) are Japan for the food, culture, and skiing, and France to practise my broken French and wonder at how easy I have it as an English speaker in Australia!