Dubbo’s newest medical specialists Dr Colin McClintock and Dr Jenniffer Fiore-Chapman both work as nephrologists at Dubbo Base Hospital Specialist Medical Centre.

So far they are extremely happy with their decision to move west. “We plan to stay in Dubbo for a long time,” Dr Fiore-Chapman said.

“We are making our home here.”

Dr McClintock moved to Australia five years ago from Scotland.

Dr Fiore-Chapman moved here from Argentina almost four years ago.

They met while working at Royal Prince Alfred (RPA) and Concord hospitals in Sydney three years ago.

“We both started on the same day at RPA,” Dr Fiore-Chapman said. “We are at the same hospital with the same specialty … things haven’t changed.”

The doctors made the move to Dubbo when they learned they could work together at the same hospital.

Dr Fiore-Chapman said Greater Western Area Health Service was just as excited about their interest in Dubbo as they were about the advertised positions.

“When I rang to inquire about the position and told them I had a husband also looking for a job they were over the moon,” she said.

“There is a shortage of renal physicians in

metropolitan hospitals so it was quite a big thing for the two of us to come here.”

The couple is already enjoying the change in lifestyle after their move from Sydney to Dubbo.

“We are both outdoorsy people - we swim, cycle, run - so Dubbo is

surprisingly the perfect place for us,” Dr

Fiore-Chapman said. “We were concerned about a lack of cultural activities but as soon as we heard about the future tiered theatre we made our decision to move,” Dr McClintock said.

“I think the theatre will attract a lot of professionals to the city because it fills the gap between the country and metropolitan lifestyles.”

The doctors already have plans for expanding renal dialysis in the region.

“We plan to set up

outreach clinics in Bourke, Brewarrina, Warren and Walgett soon and expand to other remote towns later.

“Professionally it is very exciting to be able to provide services to these very isolated areas that have had no access to specialist health care.

“Already our time in Dubbo has been both exciting and challenging and we expect that to continue.”

keely.bell@ruralpress.com