April 5, 2022
HUMANITARIANISM AND PUBLIC HEALTH WITH DR LAI HENG FOONG
SO WE ARE DELIGHTED TO INTRODUCE THE NEXT OF OUR “BLUGIBBON BITES”, A CHAT WITH DR LAI HENG FOONG.
Although the bulk of her current work is in emergency medicine, her background is rooted in public health, and specifically disaster health, something that would come in handy given the COVID-19 epidemic.
Standout projects pre-COVID include work with the American Red Cross in Cambodia and Médecins Sans Frontières in Angola as well as projects with the International Emergency Medicine Group delivering training in Sri Lanka, Cuba, Vietnam, and Pakistan.
Amongst this work her career highlights included treating seriously ill families and children with MSF during the Civil War in Angola , making a huge impact on their lives as they retreated to forests to hide for years during the conflict.
In recent times Lai Heng is passionate about climate change and works to lobby the government to divest from fossil fuels and commit to Zero Emissions by 2030 and ACEM (Australasian College of Emergency Medicine) to ensure they are developing an environmental strategy and sticking to it. Not content with just accepting the status quo, human rights are close to her heart, particularly the health of refugees , an area she believes we always do more on and her drive to highlight the work of women in medicine, contributing to the pioneering work of NoWEM (Network of Women in Emergency Medicine) . In addition, Lai managed to squeeze in sharing her expertise of COVID in the early days of the pandemic on an excellent podcast with Barry Nilsson Lawyers , sharing priceless suggestions on managing the virus as a community and as individuals .
Central to her work is providing care with compassion, addressing health inequities and social determinants of health. She hopes to continue her work in public institutions and humanitarian work while juggling life with her two beautiful children, her chocolate labrador, and cat. Nowadays you will find her at Bankstown Hospital as a FACEM and Royal Prince Alfred as a Sexual Health VMO. If you are looking to locum as a FACEM with Blugibbon get in touch today at info@blugibbon.com or 02 8960 6445 .
Read more Locum Interviews today!
Recent Posts
Life as a Doctor Aboard the DLV2000 – by Dr. Mark Bolt When most people picture a locum medical job, they think dusty country hospitals or tropical island clinics. But for Dr. Mark Bolt, locuming has meant something entirely different this time... working 600km north of Broome on a giant floating construction site in the Timor Sea. Enter the DLV2000: part ship, part building site, part offshore medical outpost. It's a beast of a vessel, 182 metres long, 39 metres wide, with its own helideck, heavy-lift cranes, industrial workers in hi-vis, and one solo doctor on board for 28 days at a time. That doctor just happens to be Mark. From emergency med training to inspecting the ship’s galley with the captain (yes, really), Mark gives us a candid look into what life’s really like offshore. The routine, the downtime, the food (spoiler: it’s very good), and the kind of clinical presentations you’ll see when you’re hundreds of kilometres from land with nothing but ocean around you. Curious what it takes to be a ship’s doctor? Wondering if it’s worth the pay and adventure? Or just want to see what “remote medicine” truly means? Mark’s got you covered. Let’s dive in...
You don’t need to jet off to Japan or Europe to experience world-class skiing. Australia’s Snowy Mountains offer fresh powder, epic scenery... and for locum doctors, the chance to combine flexible work with a winter getaway. At Blugibbon, we’ve placed hundreds of doctors in the Southern Highlands and ACT region. With great access to Perisher and Thredbo via Canberra, many of our locums are discovering a whole new way to work, earn, and explore. If you’re considering a stint in emergency medicine, rural GP or general locum work this winter, here’s your insider’s guide, local tips included. Base Yourself in Canberra, Escape to the Slopes Canberra is fast becoming a favourite among doctors who want the best of both worlds, an easy-to-navigate capital city with high-quality hospital placements, and a straight-shot route into the mountains for your days off. From Canberra, you’re just a 2–2.5 hour drive to the Snowy Mountains region, including: Perisher – Australia’s largest ski resort Thredbo – For longer runs and lively après Crackenback – A charming mountain village that’s a great base if you want to explore both
A FACEM Review of Derby Community Health Service & Hospital
Esperance Locum Review: Smooth arrival, stunning beaches & a dream ED gig. Dr Heidi’s recap.
Bairnsdale ED: A Junior Reg's Rural Revelation (5/5 Stars!) Your Next Must-Do Placement
Discover Italian Delights in New South Wales: A Taste of Italy in Griffith
