RAPTOR program bears fruit for budding physicians
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Dr Pristina Goh at Peak Charles National Park (left) and Lake Lefroy (right).
For aspiring physician Dr Pristina Goh, taking part in our RAPTOR program has been an invaluable opportunity to develop new skills and build resilience as a clinician.
RAPTOR – which stands for Rural Adult Physician Training, Opportunities and Rotations – is a 12-month professional development program that prepares junior doctors to apply for Basic Physician Training with the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.
As part of the program, Dr Goh spent 2025 working as a Resident Medical Officer (RMO) at Kalgoorlie Health Campus where she underwent pre-physician training through several term rotations.
“The highlights of my RAPTOR experience were the Clinical Service Improvement (CSI) term and the exposure to a breadth of cases during my General Medicine, Emergency Medicine, and Perioperative Medicine terms,” Dr Goh said.
“During my CSI term, I reviewed the escalation pathways in the chemotherapy unit and, with the help of senior medical and nursing staff, proposed solutions to streamline escalation pathways for nursing and medical staff working in the unit.
“It was a fruitful process as I was able to implement the solutions from the project when I worked in the chemotherapy unit as an RMO.”
The RAPTOR program offers participants employment at a WA Country Health Service site, senior physician mentoring, clinical presentation opportunities, and research, audit and/or clinical service improvement experience.
“I’m grateful for my time in Kalgoorlie, as I had opportunities to be more hands-on in my clinical work, learn procedural skills and build resilience as a clinician and an individual,” Dr Goh said.
“I also had the privilege of learning about Aboriginal Health and the local communities and languages in the Goldfields.
“My advice for anyone thinking about going rural would be to give it a go and know that you’re not alone, that you can always ask for help.”
RAPTOR will be available at the following WA Country Health Service sites in 2027:
- Albany Health Campus
- Broome Health Campus
- Bunbury Regional Hospital
- Geraldton Health Campus
- Kalgoorlie Health Campus
Applications for the 2027 program will open on 23 March 2026 and close on 13 April 2026.
For more information visit our application process for junior doctors webpage, phone the WA Country Health Service Medical Education Unit on (08) 6391 0645, or email meu@health.wa.gov.au.