From Oxford to Ivanhoe: Hosting Medical Student Olivia at Ivanhoe Family Doctors

At Ivanhoe Family Doctors, we love being a teaching clinic and opening our doors to the next generation of medical professionals. Recently, we had the absolute pleasure of hosting Olivia, a medical student from the prestigious University of Oxford, for her final-year elective placement.

Olivia spent time learning the ropes of the Australian healthcare system, getting to know our wonderful community, and working closely alongside Dr Ali Kolahdooz. Before she headed back to the UK to finish her degree, we sat down with her to chat about her journey, her impressions of Melbourne, and what she’s taking away from her time at IFD.

The Journey: What motivated a medical student from the University of Oxford to choose Australia, and specifically Ivanhoe Family Doctors, for a GP placement?

Olivia: I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at the University of Oxford and my placements at the hospitals and practices in Oxford. At the end of my medicine degree, I had the opportunity to self-arrange a 10-week medical placement anywhere in the world. I have wanted to visit Australia for as long as I can remember, and this felt like the perfect opportunity to truly explore the country.

The first part of my trip was spent in Vanuatu, where I did a four-week placement in the paediatric department of a local hospital. Then, it was time to fly to Australia. I am very fortunate to have family living in Melbourne, which is why I chose Ivanhoe specifically. Ivanhoe Family Doctors seemed like the perfect place to experience the Australian healthcare system firsthand.

First Impressions: Coming from the UK, what was your first impression of the healthcare environment at IFD?

Olivia: I instantly felt very comfortable in the healthcare environment at IFD. The practice setup and style of consultations were very similar to what I am used to back in the UK. The practice was incredibly clean and had a calm, welcoming atmosphere. Everybody working here is kind, and I noticed that patients always left with a smile on their face.

Mentorship: How was your experience working alongside and learning from Dr Ali Kolahdooz?

Olivia: I thoroughly enjoyed working alongside and learning from Dr Ali. He is a fantastic doctor with a wealth of knowledge across all medical specialities. It was evident from every single consultation that he is well-loved by all his patients. He plays an important role not only in their individual lives but often in the lives of their entire families. He builds such strong doctor-patient relationships that they come back to him with any and every problem they have.

The Contrast: What are the most interesting differences you noticed between the healthcare approach in the UK and the medical system here in Australia?

Olivia: As I mentioned, the general practice setting in Australia doesn’t feel wildly dissimilar to the one in the UK. The main difference is the way patients fund their healthcare. In the UK, we have the NHS, so all GP appointments and any investigations that follow are completely free. The only thing patients pay for directly is their prescriptions.

During my time at IFD, I learned about Medicare and how patients navigate the differences between bulk billing and private billing. While most investigations are covered by Medicare, some more specialised tests are funded out-of-pocket by the patient. This made me wonder at first whether certain patients would be disadvantaged as a result. However, Dr Ali showed me how financial support systems are integrated to protect patients from less fortunate financial backgrounds, ensuring they still receive quality care.

Key Takeaway: Is there a specific lesson or clinical experience from your time at IFD that you’ll take back with you to your future medical career?