GP Ambassador Gosford Hospital
Name: Donna Lau
Hospital: Gosford/ Wyong Hospitals (Central Coast Local Health Network)
What do your friends call you?
Dons, Donsi, Mama Dons
How old are you?
28
Where are you from originally – and where did you grow-up/go to school?
I was born in Sydney to Chinese/ Taiwanese parents. Interestingly, my first language was Chinese and I didn’t learn English until I was enrolled in school. My high school was Sydney Girls High and I went to Sydney University for both my undergraduate course and medical degree.
Are you from a “medical” background?
No, I am the first doctor in our family, although my cousin did attend medical school at the same time as me.
Do you have brothers and sisters?
1 younger sister
What are you interests/pastimes/hobbies?
I love the outdoors, especially rockclimbing and canyoning. I also enjoy scuba diving, travelling, music, reading, cooking and crochet projects.
What do you think your best qualities are?
I’m a good listener and I love to laugh with others. I think I have a pretty voracious appetite for life.
When/how did you first know or decide you wanted to study medicine?
I’d been stuck inside a medical research laboratory lab for many hours with no windows to the outside world with my most frequent companions being the lab mice when I realised I needed more human contact and wanted to help people in a more direct way.
What were the influences that persuaded you to study medicine?
I was supported by friends and family who gave me the confidence to sit the exam and attempt to gain university entrance.
Did anybody in particular influence/persuade you?
Over a cup of tea, a friend’s mother in particular planted the idea in my mind to really give it a go.
How and why did you decide on General Practice?
Flexibility, variety and so many different opportunities!
What makes General Practice so special for you as a specialisation?
You can really do so much with this specialty. There are so many opportunities within GP to specialise in many different areas and you can really maintain both your lifestyle as well as your career.
What do you particularly like about General Practice?
I love being both the first port of call for most of the population’s health issues as well as being able to set down roots in a community and get to know a patient and their family and community. I also have a dream of travelling around rural and outback Australia and would really love to do so as a locum GP.
Why did you decide to become a GP Ambassador?
I feel like GP is easily overlooked these days as a career choice by junior doctors, partially because other colleges may be more active in promoting their specialty. I am proud to have the opportunity to be a champion of general practice and advocate it’s many strengths to my colleagues.
What do you think you can contribute to the Going Places Network?
I’d like to incorporate more fun and creative ways of educating people about general practice.
What advice would you give to anyone thinking about General Practice as a career move?
Speak to someone in general practice and ask them your questions directly. I’d want to know what their motivating factors are so I could discuss with them how general practice may fit in with them. I’d also advise them to check out the going places website which has a lot of useful information to guide you.
How do you think you can help people with questions about General Practice?
I’m happy to sit down with anyone who is interested for a tea or coffee and try my best to answer your questions, and if I don’t have the answer, I’m sure I can direct you to a resource that will!
Why would you recommend people should join the Going Places Network and be involved in the activities?
What do you think the benefits are?
There will always be someone who can help answer any questions you may have. The Going Places Network ensures that you are part of a supportive group with similar goals as yourself.
