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Queensland Health

Testimonials

Dr Anthony Espinet

Dr Anthony Espinet was not exactly starved for choice when he decided to make Queensland home. The anaesthetist, who until recently was running a successful cardio-thoracic unit in the UK, had his pick of positions all over the country.

"I visited a couple of Australian capital city hospitals, but when I arrived on the Gold Coast I knew this was the place for me," Dr Espinet said. "The Gold Coast was the last stop, but after visiting the hospital and having a look around I knew this was the place."

Dr Espinet said the most appealing aspect of moving to Queensland was the balance it offered in his life. "I realised I wanted to 'work to live' rather than 'live to work'."

Since settling on the gold Coast with his family six months ago, he said the quality of life was outstanding. "The beaches are inviting, the weather is mild and the people are friendly - this is working in paradise," he said. "Queensland can offer both the challenges of a thriving work environment as well as a range of choices for your leisure time."

Dr Espinet said the hospital had a great future and he was interested in being part of developing the services in the coming years. "I decided to come here because I realised life was too short," he said. Dr Espinet grew up in the Caribbean before moving to England and completing his training. He has travelled and worked all over the world but emphasised that nowhere came close to his new home for lifestyle.

Dr Guan Koh

As a staff specialist in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Townsville General Hospital, Guan Koh is a long way from where he first studied medicine. Originally from Sarawak in Malaysia, Dr Koh studied medicine at Cambridge University in the 1970s before eventually moving to Australia. He has worked in Townsville for seven years.

"When I was doing my first medical job after graduating, I was struck by the incredible resilience of babies who are sick. You give them just a little bit of help and they do a Lazarus on you."

Dr Koh has an obvious passion for his work, and enjoys the special bond that unit staff have with their young patients.

"Out of 500 sick babies we get through the unit, 95 per cent have a great outcome. If I could collect all the tears that are shed in this unit, there would be enough to fill a room. There would be tears of fear, of sadness, of guilt and worry, but there would also be many tears of happiness. I'm touched by the very pure dedication of the people who work as a team to help those tiny babies."