Clare Richmond: alumni profile

You’re a specialist doctor with Sydney HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service), what is the path that lead you to this role?

After a gap year post high school, I completed a medical science degree at UTS and a post graduate medical degree at Sydney University. On the long (10 year post medical school) path of becoming an Emergency Physician I worked at Sydney HEMS and knew that was where I wanted to end up long-term. 

Working at Sydney HEMS I care for some of the sickest patients in the state - on the roadside, at the base of cliffs, remote areas and in smaller hospitals - and then continue to manage their clinical care as we move them to hospital for further management. I have gained experience working with other services based in Alice Springs and central London. 
Each week I spend some time working in the emergency department, on the road or in the sky with the NSW Ambulance service (Sydney HEMS), teaching doctors and paramedics, or on the phone tasking our medical teams across the state to provide medical care for sick patients.

I love that every day is varied, and that I get to use many different skills in the course of my work.

When you were at school did you dream of becoming a doctor? 

No, at school I wanted to work in physiotherapy. Having been heavily involved in classical ballet at school I had wanted to work with physical bodies. 

What has the highlight of your career been to date?

I’ve had many amazing experiences. Treating patients and getting to meet them and their families is always an inspiration - it makes every bit of study worthwhile. 

I’m lucky enough to travel the world to teach in other locations and meet very interesting doctors, and speak about our experiences in NSW. 

People - whether they are patients, colleagues or friends - are what inspires me to be the best I can be. 

What are you passionate about?

My greatest passion at work is arming others with the tools to provide exceptional care whether that be teaching others through simulation (practising skills in a safe, but sometimes stressful environment), mentoring junior doctors and trying to extend the knowledge of myself and those around me. 

Outside of work, I’m studying to be a yoga teacher; the practice of mindfulness is a counterpoint to my stressful work life!

You appeared in a video for the Sydney Opera House’s All About Women festival. What did it mean to you to be involved in the festival?

When my boss asked me if I wanted to be in a video to inspire young girls around the world to meet their greatest potential I jumped at the chance. 

The video reminds us seeing is believing. Children need to be able to see what others have achieved to realise not only that they can succeed too, but that through goal setting, hard work and visualisation they can exceed what others have done before them. 

Seeing Brianna’s face as she saw the helicopter and realised that women work in this role was magical. We had a great chat off camera about the helicopter, the women and men I work with and the paths you can take in life - both of us being from the Central Coast was a bonus. I love that the video has been shown to girls (and boys) all across the globe.

You’re quite a role model in the video, did you have a role model at CCGS and who was it? 

I spent a lot of time at school having conversations with Monica Mayer, who was both my sixth class teacher and my HSC classical ballet teacher. We’ve stayed in touch since I left CCGS. She and her family are essentially part of mine.

You graduated from CCGS nearly 20 years ago in 1996, are you still connected with your school friends and what do these connections mean to you?

I have a few close friends from CCGS I stay in touch with. Some I see regularly, others on occasion as we have spread out across the globe.  It’s always fun to see the expressions when we tell people we’ve known each other since primary or high school.

What is one piece of advice you would give to your high school self?

Learn as much about as many different things as you can, take calculated risks, travel the world and don’t forget to slow down to enjoy the moment.