- medical interns
- 2 min read
It’s a big first week on the job for Monash Health’s newest doctors, with 126 medical interns arriving for the start of a five-day orientation program at Monash Medical Centre.
Running from 5 to 9 January, the week blends clinical and professional sessions with mandatory training, including electronic medical record (EMR) education and Basic Life Support, before interns step onto the wards for a “shadow day” alongside medical teams.
Wellbeing activities are woven through the program, with one team-based highlight designed to break the ice early: a Play-Doh CPR challenge, aimed at building collaboration and connection before the clinical workload ramps up.
Interns will complete the year across Monash Health’s major metropolitan and rural sites, rotating through five terms that expose them to different teams and settings as they build confidence, capability and independence.
This year’s intake reflects a diverse pipeline of new doctors, with graduates joining from Monash University (including the Malaysian campus), Deakin University, and the University of Melbourne.
In her welcome address, Chief Medical Officer Professor Georgia Soldatos urged interns to stay curious and speak up early if something doesn’t feel right.
‘Ask questions… and ask yourself, “What else could it be, what am I missing?”’ she said, adding that escalation in the spirit of patient advocacy is an expected behaviour.
She also pointed interns back to the people at the centre of the health system: patients and families.
Professor Soldatos told interns that while technical skill matters, so does the human side of care.
‘Never underestimate the power of small acts of humanity,’ she said.
‘They are remembered long after the medicine.’
One of the medical interns, Pranav Srivatsan, who is an avid triathlete, will be starting in the geriatrics unit in Kingston Centre next week.
‘I’m excited to become a part of new teams and learn about different specialties. However, I’m nervous about the big responsibility jump from medical school up to internship,’ medical intern, Pranav Srivatsan.
Sophie Chan, who is an active member of her local gymnastics club, will be starting in General Medicine at the Monash Medical Centre in Clayton. She will also be rotating through Dandenong Hospital and has a rural term at Wonthaggi Hospital.
‘In preparation for next week, I like to remind myself that every doctor has a day one. As long as you listen to your patients and are eager to learn and ask questions, confidence will follow,’ she said.
By the end of their orientation week, we hope our Medical Interns will be feeling more equipped with the skills, knowledge and professionalism required to start the transition from student to doctor at Monash Health.
Expectedly, our new cohort of fresh faces will likely be feeling some jitters and nerves as they settle into their new routines.
We encourage you to help them feel welcome and supported by checking in as they navigate this major transitional period in their personal and professional lives.
Welcome, Interns of 2026!
