A chair for general medicine has existed at the Medical Faculty in Maribor since 2003. And on October 1st also one in Linz. Erika Zelko has been teaching general medicine in Maribor for 16 years; she will head the new chair for general medicine at the Medical Faculty of the Johannes Kepler University in Linz (JKU).
“We have to confront the students with general medicine at an early stage, infect them with this topic,” says Zelko. “In addition to my teaching work, I will also be working in an ordination in the future. Then I will be able to get to know the field of general practitioners even better in this country.”
Role models for students
“General medicine as a separate subject is anything but self-evident. With this special focus, we also take on social responsibility,” says Meinhard Lukas, Rector of the JKU. “By getting more young people interested in general medicine in the future, we want to prevent the shortage of doctors.”
43 cash points are currently vacant in Upper Austria. In Braunau a position was advertised twelve times, in Linz eleven times. Always without success so far. The upcoming wave of retirement will further exacerbate the situation in the years to come. “The students need role models. If they are confronted with general medicine at an early stage by resident lecturers, the probability is higher that they will later decide to live as resident doctors,” says the President of the Upper Austrian Medical Association, Peter Niedermoser . More than 50 such “role models” are currently teaching at the Medical Faculty at the JKU. In addition, prospective doctors at Kepler University can write their bachelor’s and master’s theses in the field of general medicine.
“In our 67 teaching sessions, prospective doctors can also get a taste of real ordination air,” says Elgin Drda, Vice Rector and Dean of the Medical Faculty of the JKU. “Through the teaching practice, prospective doctors get to know the family doctor profession directly on site,” says LH deputy and health officer Christine Haberlander. “This contact with general medicine is reinforced by Erika Zelko.”
Improve exchange
In addition to more research in the field of general medicine and stronger networking of the chair with hospitals and the medical association, Zelko wants to promote the exchange between the individual departments.
“It can’t be that medical professionals study long term next to each other and communicate normally and then, as soon as they have specialized, suddenly can’t talk to each other anymore,” says Zelko.
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
