Seven years ago, Dr Renee Cremen moved to Babinda—65 kilometres south of Cairns—for a 12-month work placement and never left.

Now, Renee is the Medical Superintendent for the Babinda Multi-Purpose Health Service and Yarrabah Emergency Services.

“When I moved to Babinda I didn’t realise how much I would love rural medicine, and the staff and community were amazing. They made me feel welcome from day one,” says Renee.

“In my role as a rural generalist medical superintendent I care for all ages and presentations within the outpatient clinic, emergency department, acute ward and co-located residential facility.

“No day is ever the same with many different accomplishments and challenges, whether that be patient, resource or managerial—it keeps me interested.

“I also have an interest in skin cancer medicine and personally, there is no better way to end a day then with an excision!

“Working in a small community over this period means that I have been involved in many life events and developed continuity of care for many patients. I have watched babies become children, teenagers become young adults and start families, and provided preventative medicine to adults to limit chronic disease and care for the elderly through to their passing… it is special.

“I have worked for the Queensland public sector for nearly 10 years and have never looked back. I love my role.

“I have always wanted to be a rural generalist and finished my Rural Generalist Medical Training with the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine—and Babinda is an ideal location for me and my family.”