February 20, 2019
Laura Raiti started working at Northern Health as an intern in 2016.
Just two years on, after commencing her paediatric training with us, she was awarded the 2018 Victorian Junior Doctor of the Year award, by the Confederation of Postgraduate Medical Education Councils (CPMEC). Laura tells us about her Northern Health journey.
“Following my internship and paediatric training, I was lucky enough to come to Northern Health as a paediatric resident for six months in 2018 and hope to return for another rotation in the future as a paediatric registrar. In between my rotations, I have an ongoing casual contract so I can work as a locum doctor to help cover shifts,” she said.
Laura’s favourite thing about working here is the culture.
“There is a great culture at Northern Health, and Northern Hospital has a fantastic work environment! Everyone is very approachable, friendly and keen to help each other,” she says.
“I had a wonderful experience in my internship, working with a number of different teams and was lucky to have been mentored, supervised and taught by so many passionate clinicians,” she adds.
“I thoroughly enjoyed returning to Northern Health in 2018 to work in the Paediatric Department, and I genuinely felt like a valued part of the team working in the Children’s Ward and Special Care Nursery,” she says.
Northern Health recognised her hard work and nominated her for the ‘Junior Doctor of the Year’ award.
“In 2018, I was the chair of the Postgraduate Medical Council of Victoria (PMCV) Junior Medical Officer Forum and the Australasian Junior Medical Officers’ Committee, where I had the opportunity to represent junior doctors at both a state and federal level. The ‘Junior Doctor of the Year’ award recognises my advocacy work, interests and passion for improving the culture of medical education and training within our workplace and the profession,” she adds.
The award was a huge achievement and meant a lot to Laura, who says she’s very appreciative of Northern Health for recognising her work, in particular, Susie Sangas from the Medical Education Department, who nominated her for the award.
“Dr Laura Raiti is an outstanding junior doctor and has participated in many activities that enhance the wellbeing of junior doctors. We congratulate her on this well deserved award,” Susie said.
“I am very passionate about education and training, and have held a number of leadership positions and representative roles to help advocate for the needs of junior doctors both at a state level and nationally,” Laura says.
“I have also helped to promote wellbeing and a supportive workplace culture, to help deliver excellent patient care, but also, self-care to ensure we are looking after ourselves and each other,” she adds.
Laura hopes to continue this advocacy work during her paediatric training and throughout her medical career.
Pictured (left to right): Susie Sangas, Laura Raiti & Rachael Coutts
