Local woman Dr Alison Blight has returned to the Mid North Coast as a Palliative Care Specialist for the Mid North Coast Local Health District.
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Alison was born and raised in Kempsey and attended Melville High School before studying biomedical science at the University of Technology in Sydney.
After completing a Bachelor of Medicine in 2001, Alison worked as a junior doctor in Newcastle and Sydney before undertaking advanced training in Palliative Medicine in the Hunter region before embarking on a major research project for her specialty in rural palliative care.
Recently, Alison has worked part time in palliative care and has worked to gain further skills in managing acute pain, chronic non-cancer pain and cancer related pain syndromes.
In 2017 Alison returned to Kempsey to attend the Palliative Care Round Table and said she was impressed by the representation and ideas of people in the area.
"It was clear that the Palliative Care Service and set-up on the Mid North Coast, and the vision for growing it and the education and training of palliative care, fit most closely with my own ideals and preferences for practice," she said.
Alison began her role as Palliative Care Specialist early this year and said being able to work on the Mid North Coast is something she has dreamed of doing.
“One of the things I remember growing up in Kempsey was how hard the doctors worked, and what a difference they made to the community. When I got into medical school, I knew that I wanted to contribute to improved rural health services – and here I am, getting just that chance," she said.
Alison and her husband Dr Richard Lawrence have been living on the Mid North Coast for two months and Alison said being back home has made the adjustment easier.
"Although it really was the nature of the Palliative Care service that Dr Dan Curley has developed in the Coffs Harbour network that attracted me to the position, it obviously has the benefits of being much closer to Mum and Dad in Kempsey."
“I find it ironic that the seed of considering coming back to work on the Mid North Coast was at the Kempsey Palliative Care Round Table in 2017. Home always has a way of calling you back I guess."
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