Midwest medical intern up for 2026 Rural Health Excellence Award
Dr Celia Wong may have grown up in the city, but the joys and challenges of rural healthcare drew her to the bush.
The Resident Medical Officer – who was a medical intern at Geraldton Health Campus last year – has been named as a finalist in Intern of the Year category the 2026 Rural Health Excellence Awards.
Her first country experience was in Geraldton in 2024 as a medical student from Melbourne on a GP elective to experience rural generalist medicine.
Known for her friendly and positive demeanour, Celia is a strong advocate for junior doctors and was part of the Geraldton Junior Medical Officers’ Society and Prevocational Education and Training Committee.
Passionate about clinical excellence and patient care - she has contributed to the AlliGatOr Study – international research that aims to improve surgical outcomes for appendicitis patients.
She also conducted a Choosing Wisely audit – a clinical review process to measure healthcare practices against evidence-based recommendations to reduce the number of tests, treatments and procedures needed in the Emergency Department.
She said the internship program developed her skills in a dynamic clinical environment and helped to improve patient outcomes, while also enjoying all the Midwest had to offer.
“The best part of my job is being able to help patients to solve an issue on the spot - whether that's making a diagnosis, placing a difficult cannula or organising an appointment,” she said.
“I also love working with my colleagues on the wards, and being part of a close-knit hospital community, you’d often have your friends working alongside you on every rotation.
“Outside of work, being able to explore the Midwest and Gascoyne coastline and having the beach minutes from the hospital and accommodation made it a really special place to train and live.”
Celia said while the nomination was unexpected, she was delighted to be recognised for an award so early in her career.
“I’m really grateful to everyone in Geraldton who supported me throughout the year,” she said.
“From the start of my internship, it was an incredibly friendly and welcoming place.
The support from the teams across the organisation was so beneficial as it enabled me to learn and perform well.”
Based at Royal Perth Hospital this year, Celia looks forward to returning to picturesque Geraldton and delivering care to country communities.
The WA Rural Health Excellence Awards are hosted by WA Country Health Service and Rural Health West. Winners will be announced at a gala ceremony on Saturday 14 March 2026.