Millingandi’s Dr Catherine Marks joined the surgery this week and is looking forward to working with the community of Bega.

“I love it, I’m really happy here it’s a great area,” Dr Marks said this week.

The mother of three brings to the practice a strong background in women’s and family health.

“Being a mother it means I can relate and women generally want to see female doctors because it makes communication much easier,” she said.

Dr Marks will be working three days a week in Bega, sharing her patients with Dr Patty Salisbury who often visits the Mae La Refugee Camp on the Thai border of Myanmar.

“I’ll be working together with Patty [Salisbury] for more continuation of care,” she said.

After completing her study at Melbourne’s Monash University, Dr Marks has worked in busy metropolitan emergency rooms before making a sea-change to Mallacoota and spending time at the Pambula Medical Centre and Pambula Hospital.

“I think what I really like about a rural area is knowing your patients more and feeling you are connected in a community,” Dr Marks said.

“In the city you are constantly dealing with strangers, which can be dehumanising.

“It’s much more personable here, you can deal with people better because you know them and you also know the people the specialists are referring them to.”

After just a few days in her new role she said she is already feeling at home.

“They’re great, very inclusive and it’s a very happy environment,” Dr Marks said.

“There’s a very diverse group of people here and as a clinic it has a lot to offer the community.”

She has built such strong relationships with her Pambula patients that a number have followed her to the Bega practice.

“It’s very nice,” she said with a big smile.

“It’s very special.”