WONCA President on the Rural Road to Health Podcast

WONCA President, A/Prof Karen Flegg, a rural general practitioner from Australia, recently joined the Rural Road to Health podcast to discuss her journey in rural medicine and leadership. Hosted by Dr Veronika Rasic, co-founder of Rural Seeds—a subgroup of the WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice—the podcast highlights the experiences of young doctors and medical students with an interest in rural health.

In this episode, A/Prof Flegg shares her path from rural practice to international leadership, reflecting on the challenges and rewards of working in rural healthcare. She discusses the importance of mentorship, community engagement, and leadership development for rural doctors.

Key topics covered in the conversation include:

• The rewards and challenges of rural practice: A/Prof Flegg speaks about the strong sense of community, the support among colleagues, and the fulfilling nature of rural medicine. However, she also highlights the social difficulties of finding deep connections beyond friendly acquaintances.
• A path to leadership: She shares how she was encouraged to take on leadership roles, often by simply saying “yes” to opportunities. From chairing a local community board to joining the Australian College of General Practitioners and later becoming WONCA’s editor, each experience helped shape her leadership journey.
• Balancing clinical work and leadership: Leadership in global health requires international travel, strong governance skills, and a supportive local community. Professor Flegg discusses the realities of balancing clinical commitments with a leadership role and how she has navigated these challenges.
• Encouraging the next generation: She urges young rural doctors to seize opportunities, whether by joining WONCA Working Parties, attending conferences, or networking with peers. Leadership, she says, is about teamwork, mentorship, and advocacy—ensuring rural voices are heard in healthcare policy.

A/Prof Flegg hopes to see more young rural doctors step into leadership and advocacy roles, ensuring that rural health remains a priority worldwide.