Dr Song Chan, Director of Training, Psychiatry

I am a locally trained psychiatrist who has come through the Northern Region Psychiatry Training Programme (NRPTP). In some ways, one could say I have lived alongside this programme for the best part of a decade from being a registrar through to a consultant psychiatrist and now one of the two directors of training (DOT) together with Dr Woods. I have been in this role since February 2020, working to ensure that our trainees get the best experience possible across Australia and New Zealand.   

I ended up in psychiatry somewhat by chance. It was never something which enthused me in medical school, but in my first year as a house officer I was exposed to the world of acute inpatient psychiatry by two senior psychiatrists. This cultivated my interest in the art of psychiatry and gave my work as a doctor much more meaning. I work primarily as a consultation-liaison psychiatrist, bridging the gap between mental health services and hospital-based services. There is huge unmet need and in my clinical role, I effectively get to practice holistic medicine. I am not confined by organ systems or solely by psychiatric diagnoses but get to understand and appreciate the individuals I work with in a holistic context.  

Our training programme is well regarded across Australia and New Zealand. Trainees get to attend in person teaching once a week and develop close bonds and relationships with each other. This networking is critical and pivotal as training can be at times challenging. Regionally we offer all psychiatric subspecialties and the opportunity to work across four very different districts from the far north down to South Auckland.  

As someone who trained in this very programme, I am happy to stand by the quality of training we can deliver in the Northern Region. I look forward to meeting those of you who are interested in becoming our next generation of psychiatrists.