Training a new generation in rural anaesthetics – Dr Robert Easther
An ambition to find a challenging position in life, where close teamwork and hands-on experience go together, has led Dr Robert Easter to an incredibly interesting and varied specialist career. In this episode of Destination Medicine, Dr Easther, a consultant anaesthetist working in NSW and Tasmania, shares his journey and dedication to rural healthcare. Starting medicine late, he found his passion in obstetric and orthopaedic anaesthesia, shaped by a fellowship in Canada. At Wagga Wagga Base Hospital, he serves as a supervisor of training and leads a regional anaesthesia training scheme. He emphasises the importance of mentorship and the diverse, challenging nature of anaesthesia. But it’s not all hard work, with Dr Easter enjoying the work-life balance in Wagga Wagga, being close to work and active in the community. He advises medical students and junior doctors to plan ahead and stay open to opportunities.