Dr Briana Rainnie is part of the surgical team at Rockhampton Hospital, providing vital general surgical services to the community.
She is a Principal House Officer in Plastic Surgery and is doing a special arrangement where she works for six months in Rockhampton, and six months at Greenslopes Hospital in Brisbane.
Dr Briana has been here since early February, and she absolutely loves it.
She aims to eventually become a specialist plastic surgeon, and enjoys the fact that it’s a varied profession, involving the whole body, and she gets to treat both children and adults.
“I enjoy the fact there’s a reconstructive and cosmetic side to plastic surgery,” she said. “We try to do both at the same time by making things look good for both form and function.”
She enjoys the teamwork, and the opportunity to do some complex surgeries.
Dr Briana has slotted well into the general surgery team and is enjoying the upskilling opportunity. Rockhampton patients are benefiting from her plastic surgery experience when she deals with their skin lesions.
“This is a lovely team, they’re very supportive,” she said. “We get a good variety of cases and trauma, including injuries you don’t see anywhere else, such as farm injuries and cattle stampedes.
“These are wild injuries that you just don’t see in the city!”
Dr Briana was working as a physiotherapist at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital when she was inspired by the doctors’ procedural work, and she went back to university to study medicine.
She has no regrets.
“It’s tough, it’s long hours, and surgery can be physically and mentally exhausting, but it’s also really enjoyable,” she said.
“It’s satisfying when you can make a difference and help your patient through a difficult time, especially with surgery.”
Outside of work Dr Briana loves watching all sports and did her first triathlon last year. She also loves the beach and trying to surf and has enjoyed trips to Great Keppel Island and Yeppoon Lagoon. She also enjoys travelling.