Dr Katie Barnes – first, female and flying high
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From learning to winch out of a helicopter to providing critical care in the most demanding circumstances, Dr Katie Barnes spends her career undertaking risky retrieval missions for patients. It’s an extraordinary specialisation, and one she says can be terrifying. Growing up in Byron Bay, Katie is training as an emergency medicine specialist and retrieval doctor in her home Northern Rivers region. She discusses the challenges and rewards of working in rural healthcare, the excitement of retrieval medicine, and her experiences balancing a medical career with family life. She also offers advice to women medical students and professionals considering a career in emergency or retrieval medicine, highlighting the flexibility and support available.