Meet the Dr Susan Li with her partner Nathan Cheung who is swapping the city grind for a life-changing role in regional health.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Escaping the daily grind of traffic jams and city stress, Echuca's newest residents have discovered the joy of meandering through stalls at every farmers’ market the region has to offer.
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Dr Susan Li and her partner Nathan Cheung have joined the growing number of professionals swapping city living for country life - and their move to the twin towns brings significant medical benefits to the region.
Dr Li’s arrival represents a healthcare milestone for Echuca Regional Health, establishing the region’s first permanent geriatrician position and bringing specialised elderly care directly to local families.
She completed a Bachelor of Medical Studies and Doctor of Medicine at the University of New South Wales and undertook speciality training at centres across Sydney in a geriatrician speciality.
After working in regional positions in the Blue Mountains and Tweed Heads, she began seeking a more permanent role to make the move to country life.
“I think I enjoyed my time (regionally) the most because I felt like I could make the most different in those areas versus a big Metropolitan hospital,” Dr Li said.
“We were also just a bit sick of the monotony of living in Sydney.”
In January, the couple packed their lives into boxes and drove over 700 kilometres to begin their exciting new adventure in Echuca.
The couple have embraced the relaxed pace of country life so far, discovering neighbouring towns, exploring local attractions and becoming regular faces at regional markets.
Her partner Mr Cheung said life felt “more fulfilling” in the country.
Echuca Regional Health’s first geriatrician Dr Susan Li is here to transform local care.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Dr Li has been warmly welcomed by her new coworkers, with chief medical officer Dr Annemarie Newth expressing she was thrilled to have Dr Li and her partner part of the ERH family.
“The staff of ERH love having Susan here and feel it is already making an impact,” Dr Newth said.
It is the first time ERH has had a full-time onsite geriatrician, an addition that Dr Newth said will increase the equity of access for the community’s older residents.
“It enhances teaching to our junior medical staff and hopefully inspires some to pursue their own career in geriatrics,” Dr Newth said.
Dr Li has been working in the sub-acute rehab ward looking after older patients recovering from illness, but she is looking forward to opening a new geriatric specialised clinic in April.
The clinic will accept GP referrals for older patients requiring frailty assessments, fall prevention, comprehensive geriatric evaluations, and support for dementia and behavioural management.
She said it’s clinics like this that make all the difference in patient outcomes.
“I like community health because I think how you treat someone in a hospital versus how you treat someone in a clinic is different,” Dr Li said.
“Often you see someone in the clinic and follow their journey through right to the end.”
Local families caring for elderly parents can also breathe easier, knowing specialised geriatric appointments are now available right here in Echuca, eliminating hour-long drives to Bendigo or Shepparton.
“One thing I’ve noticed since working here is how many older residents Echuca has,” Dr Li said.
“It’s very important to have this service available locally, especially if residents are quite frail … or couldn’t tolerate travelling long distances.”
Dr Li eagerly anticipates welcoming more patients when the clinic opens, and in the meantime, she and her partner are gradually becoming part of the community fabric, one market visit at a time.
