Interview with Dr Rajib Das, UNE Medical Centre

The UNE Medical Centre is a General Practice accredited by AGPAL. The surgery is owned by The University of New England, managed in collaboration with UNE Life, and operates with independent doctors.  The Centre is available to the entire community and boasts state of the art facilities, offering a wide range of specialised services including advanced skin cancer management, women’s health & fertility services & their friendly staff.

Recently we sat down with Dr Rajib Das, MBBS, FRACGP, DCH, ACCSC. to learn a little about his journey of becoming a doctor and becoming a vital part of our community. 

What inspired you to become a Doctor?

I would say it is the human story and definitely my father. He is very close to me and unfortunately passed away at the age of 68.

I would say, I’ve learned many of life’s most profound lessons through the stories, struggles, and triumphs of my patients. And, I believe, life is a journey worth completing well. The career of a doctor is very versatile and diverse and I take pride in this. When I see a patient I always care and use best practice,  there is the scope of continuous professional development, improve and gain more knowledge, this is another big inspiration for me.

Tell us a little about your studies…

I gained my Bachelor of Medicine (MBBS) from Dhaka University, Bangladesh. After finishing my Internship I came to Australia and studied at Wollongong University and Western Sydney University.

I have lots of fond memories from my early days at University. Especially before exams, we used to study very late at night, and then go to restaurant very early in the morning at 5 or 6 am, it was wonderful, we were treated really well and  the food was made fresh at that time and only a few customers like us got to enjoy it first thing!

You have a lot of qualifications, what do you specialise in?

I’m a General Practitioner (GP), but I also specialise in; advanced skin cancer surgery and management, children’s health, family planning, and sexual health, general dermatology and I have a keen interest in diabetes and mental health.

Why did you choose to specilaise in this area?

Specialising in a range of areas gives great insight and an opportunity to look beyond general practice. For example, I take comfort in being able to diagnose melanoma early… this could save a life.  Specialising in different areas is contextual to our national health and I would like to expand this more.

What are some of your notable achievements?

Well, to get recognition as a doctor in Australia, in itself is a very notable achievement. I studied and have worked very hard to achieve this. However, there is nothing more notable then putting a smile on my patients faces.

How would you describe yourself as a doctor in one sentence?

I’m always eager to improve through continuous professional development and following best practices. I feel Im very compassionate towards my patients and have a great ability to hear their stories.

What brought you to Armidale?

My wife came here to do her rotation at Armidale Rural Referral Hospital as a junior doctor, being a family man I wanted to support her, so she, my daughter, and myself moved here.

What do you enjoy most about being a doctor in a rural area?

Im lucky to hold high job satisfaction and recognition, I enjoy the continuity of management at the UNE Medical Centre. Apart from that, the serenity and being away from traffic is a big advantage. Also, the education for my children is very important and Armidale is of high class in NSW.

What does a typical day look like for you?

Very standard. I’ll drop my daughter at school, go to work enjoy the company of my colleagues and helping people in our community, and then I enjoy my family time at home. I also like cooking and playing tennis at the weekend.

Tell us a little bit about your role at the UNE Medical Practice?

I been here since I moved to Armidale, 5 years ago. I’m proud to have seen a lot of positive changes here and I’ve had the privilege of working with other great GP’s. I am now the senior GP at this practice, which is a pleasure. Its nice working in state of art facilities and to have a great team. When I say team, I mean frontline staff to nurses and doctors, everyone pulls together and works well together, which is great and means we can all help and support each other when needed.

Working here I see all sorts of clients not only from Armidale, but also from Uralla, Guyra, Glen Innes, and even Tamworth who are looking for specialised services as well as an everyday general practice.

What is one message you would like to share with people about their health and wellbeing or maintaining it and general check-ups?

Support and help each other. Take a positive step towards your physical, mental, and social health. It’s important!

And finally, what’s your favourite thing about being a part of the New England community?

It is a great diverse community, I’ve met many young friendly and inspirational people in the international community and wider community. I also really enjoy the changing colour’s during autumn, but, like many, still trying to accustom with winter in Armidale.

Thank you so much for your time, Dr Das, it was lovely learning a little about you and your role at the Medical Centre!