Talking with Dr Kym Jenkins

What attracted you to psychiatry as a career?

Psychiatry was my second medical career after working as a GP for several years in the UK. I moved to Australia after meeting my husband, and here I found that much of my general practice focused on women’s health issues, particularly mental health including many patients with eating disorders. So for me studying psychiatry seemed the next logical step; almost inevitably I was drawn to consultation-liaison psychiatry and community psychiatry. I was always more interested in the person who had the illness, what predisposed them to become unwell and how they coped with their problems rather than the medical illness itself.

Tell us about your work with the Victorian Doctors Health Program

I’ve always had an interest in the health and welfare of colleagues, since medical student days. Early on, in private practice, I found that more and more of my patients were doctors, mostly women. Many of them had depression or eating disorders or other problems that were impacting on their career choice and their ability to practise medicine.

I also became very involved in mentoring other doctors, setting up a mentoring program, and was able to focus on evaluation of mentoring programs in my Masters of Education on workplace and adult learning. Working at the Victorian Doctors Health Program (VDHP) brought together my clinical interest in the welfare of others in our profession, the expertise I have in developing education programs and a role in administration and management.

I’ve been working with the Victorian Doctors Health Program for almost 10 years now.

What challenges and successes have you encountered in improving the health of doctors in Australia?

As well as facilitating optimal medical care for all those who came to VDHP, one of my initial aims was to increase awareness of the importance of “doctors’ health” not only in Victoria, but also to contribute nationally and internationally.

Over the years, I think we’ve played a significant part in that respect. While a decade out educational initiatives would have been aimed at developing understanding as to why doctors’ health was so important, that message has now taken root, and the focus has shifted from defining the problem to finding solutions.

There is still considerable stigma attached to doctors experiencing mental health issues, and that can hold them back from seeking help. After spending so long training to be a caregiver, it can be hard for doctors to experience a role reversal to receive care. That’s why a special skill set is required to be an effective doctor for other doctors.

What about your other work commitments?

Twice a week, I run my private practice from Cabrini Hospital, where I see predominantly female patients with depression, anxiety and posttraumatic disorders.

I also spend some time teaching; I contribute to undergraduate and post-graduate teaching at Monash University, and the post-graduate Masters of Psychiatry course at the University of Melbourne.

What are some of the highlights of your career so far?

This is always a difficult question: for those of us who see ourselves mainly as clinicians, the highlights come every time there is a good outcome for a patient. It’s always a privilege taking the journey over time with a patient, seeing them turn a corner in their illness or make some gains, however small.

On a personal level, achieving my College Fellowship after that was one of my significant highlights. While I was training in psychiatry, I was also bringing up two children under the age of five. Taking care of them and meeting all my training requirements simultaneously proved to be rough at times, and I had to ignore the doubts and believe that I could do it.

You have been a member of the RANZCP’s General Council, College Board and committees and are now President of the RANZCP. What keeps you interested in getting involved in the College’s work?

I’ve always firmly believed that the best way to effect change is to get involved and improve things from within. I also believe in the importance of the work that we do at the College.

What areas do you plan to focus on during your term as President of the RANZCP?

One of the things that drove me take up this role was that I wanted to make sure that, as a College, we listen to and more actively engage with the membership. We’ve already made considerable improvements in that area but I want to carry on with this work to increase the College’s relevance and transparency to members.

One group within the College membership that I still have particular concerns about are the international medical graduates and overseas trained psychiatrists that both the Australian and New Zealand workforces rely so heavily on. We need to continue to work in this area to facilitate adjusting to psychiatric practice in the Australia/New Zealand setting, and entry to the College’s pathway to Fellowship.

I will be seeking to continuethe College’s involvement andactivity in the policy sphere and pertinent mental health issues locally, bi-nationally as well as internationally. In line with the College’s strategic direction, I plan to build on the work of our recent Presidents in positioning the College as a relevant organisation in psychiatry and mental health in the Asia-Pacific region.

How do you balance your professional commitments, involvement in the College and other interests?

Professionally, I think it’s about pacing myself, and knowing myself well enough to recognise when I’m being spread too thin. I try to always be prepared to draw on the expertise of others or delegate to those who are better equipped in particular areas, and also try not to be afraid to occasionally say no.

One of the most important ways to balance any professional life, in my opinion, is having adequate relaxation and recreation outside of the profession. I have two puppies, a groodle and golden retriever, who are a bit “full on” at the moment but will, I’m sure, contribute to relaxation in the longer term!. Physical fitness is really important to me and I enjoy dancing, sailing and skiing.

Originally published in the RANZCP Psyche newsletter.