Specialise in rural hospital medicine
The mahi of a rural hospital doctor
As a rural hospital doctor, you will be a skilled all-rounder who must think on your feet, do a lot with a little, and understand the unique needs of your rural community.
Many of your patients will be the people in your community. They’ll live down the road, or teach your kids at the local school, so your work will directly affect them and their whānau.
You will have the flexibility to work across the motu, from the north of Te Ika-a-Māui, to the south of Te Waipounamu, often in exquisite, extreme, and remote settings.
Rural Hospital Medicine Training Programme (RHMTP)
The Rural Hospital Medicine Training Programme (RHMTP) is the course of study that qualifies you to work as a rural hospital doctor and become a Fellow of the Division of Rural Hospital Medicine New Zealand (FDRHMNZ). It is a four-year full-time programme, but there are also part-time options available.
The Division of Rural Hospital Medicine (the Division) oversees the programme and its curriculum and is a semi-autonomous body within the College.
You can also do the RHM Training Programme in tandem with the General Practice Education Programme (GPEP) in a Dual Fellowship.
Rural hospital medicine is a good mixture of general practice and acute medicine.”
Support for registrars
The College supports every RHMTP registrar. During your training you will be guided by an assigned education facilitator who will be your mentor as you make your way through your mahi. You will also be assigned to a clinical lead who can provide pastoral care and help with any programme or clinical questions.
For each of your clinical attachments, you will work closely with a rotational supervisor, and there are also clinical leaders who support registrars across the motu.
Tautoko for Māori registrars
Tautoko is provided for Māori students studying rural hospital medicine and once they have graduated and become Fellows. The College’s specialist Māori staff work alongside registrars, and Māori registrars can also join and participate in Te Akoranga a Māui, the College’s special Māori representative group.
Registrars can opt in or opt out of these offerings at any time during their study.
Key admission dates
- Applications for the next intake will be open from February to April.
- Formal offer letters for successful applicants will be sent in early June.
- The RHMTP year 1 will start in January.