January 15, 2026Northern Health welcomed 60 new interns at its 2026 Intern Orientation, held from Monday 5 to Friday 9 January. Many joined us from the Northern Clinical School, alongside others from metropolitan, regional and interstate clinical schools.
The week commenced with a welcome from Chief Medical Officer Professor Prahlad Ho and Director Northern Doctors Education Dr Kim Jeffs. Interns then heard from Dr Dennis Gyomber, Dr Yana Sunderland and Dr Dan Crompton who outlined what to expect during their core Surgery, Medicine and Emergency Department rotations.
The program was followed by structured presentations on important topics including MET calls, Infection Prevention and Quality, before afternoon skills stations gave interns hands-on practice in basic life support, intravenous cannulation, catheter insertion, pharmacy and EMR training. The Northern Doctors Workforce team were also on hand to provide information about rosters, expectations and wellbeing.
A standout session was delivered by Intern Support Officer Dr Sean Flintoft, an outgoing intern, who shared insights into the intern year from a junior doctor’s perspective. This session was highly valued, with Sean also providing on-ward support to the new interns during their first week.
“As Intern Support Officer, I help guide this wonderful group of new doctors through their first week of internship at Northern Health,” said Dr Flintoft. “I provide on-ward support, answer questions, and make sure they know where to go and what to do. With the support of the Northern Doctors Education team, we aim to facilitate a smooth transition into their new roles and set them up for a great intern year.”
The final two days of orientation focused on ward-based shadowing with outgoing interns and unit orientations led by experienced supervisors.
“Our aim is to ensure interns are supported and well prepared as they transition into clinical practice,” said Susie Sangas, Manager, Northern Doctors Education.
Dr Carol Chong, Supervisor of Intern Training, added, “A strong orientation is essential for patient safety and intern wellbeing. Early ward exposure and clear expectations help interns start the year with confidence.”
The annual intern orientation is a significant undertaking, involving teams across the organisation. Northern Doctors Education would like to thank everyone involved in setting our interns up for a successful year of training.
We wish all our 2026 interns every success as they begin their journey with Northern Health.
