Dr Frank Haberman spends his time between professional sled dog racing, 4 hours away from Anchorage, Alaska to working in remote Victoria as a GP locum. His amazing diversity of interest showcases his dedication to both his patients, his cuddly sled dogs and endurance to train in subzero temperatures for 16 hours a day.
Frank has had a varied career being an experienced GP in general medicine, minor procedures and a wealth of experience working in emergency medicine. He gained much of his Locum GP experience in the Highlands of Scotland which included cover to the local Emergency Departments which gave him the taste of rural and remote medicine.
Based in Swan Hill and Stawell as a Locum over the last few years, Dr Haberman “enjoys the mix of emergency work with GP sessions”. He finds “the rural populations more pleasant and appreciative and far less demanding than city based people”. Frank says that the “remuneration is more rewarding in rural healthcare and the work is far more challenging due to the variety of cases you are presented with each day” when working as a Locum.
Dr Haberman advices those considering locum opportunities to “be ready to deal with a range of presentations” and that they need to be “adaptable to the environment as every practice is different but supportive”. He loves the ‘different lifestyle, change of environment, opportunity to mentor and teach young doctors” which has been his motivation to return to rural Victoria as a Locum.
Frank is delighted to work with RWAV each year because “who are well organized and always delivers what is promised”. Even though he is based in Alaska, RWAV enables him to have a smooth transition to his Locum position in northern Victoria. Frank looks forward to return to rural Victoria and continue with Locum work for 4 months of the year. Once he completes his 4 months, frank returns to test his outdoor endurance and to his beloved sled dogs.
