A new ‘baby doctor’ is picking up the reins left by beloved Dr Azar Mirzaee who departed Glen Innes last year, and it’s thanks in part to Dr Azar that Glen Innes is the new home of Dr Sanar Al-Shaklee.
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Both doctors are Iraqi, offering their patients a special mix of empathy and skills after emigrating from a troubled homeland.
Dr Sanar has been in town only a week but finds the people in smaller communities to be more friendly and trustworthy, and she’s looking forward to building a big network of ‘family’.
After earning her medical degree at Baghdad University Dr Sanar has worked in the Middle East and the UK, completing a diploma in obstetrics and gynaecology, before coming to Australia and completed an advanced diploma in the same specialty.
Her Queensland posts include 3.5 years in obstetrics and gynecology and in the emergency department at Bundaberg Hospital, and another 2.5 years in Longreach in a family medical practice and as an obstetrician and gynecologist at the local hospital.
She will fill a similar role here, working with the team at AMH Medical and at Glen Innes Hospital as a Visiting Medical Officer (VMO).
She feels the addition of her general practice and emergency department experience has not only added to her skillset but made her a better doctor, and she’s happy to offer those skills in increasingly-smaller communities.
“I don’t like crowds, or facing traffic jams getting to work,” she said.
While she enjoyed her time in Longreach she said geographically the town’s somewhat isolated, and feels Glen Innes is better-positioned although the move to practising in a different state brings with it a lot of paperwork.
She said it’s easier in smaller communities to make the connections that she craves with her patients.
“Patients become friends, and a huge part of your life,” she said.
She’s not adverse to going that extra mile, relating the story of an Indian woman in Longreach with fertility problems that was finding it hard to connect with a doctor to get treatment. On meeting Dr Sanar the fertility problems got sorted and Dr Sanar was happy to come in from leave to deliver ‘the most beautiful baby girl you’ve ever seen’.
She said she’s lost count of the number of babies she’s delivered – ‘more than the hairs on my head’ – but said that every one has their own story and there are many funny incidents amongst them.
Now as a GP she appreciates being able to continue the relationship with the family, instead of leaving them in the hospital room.
She feels her international background makes her more understanding of different cultures and socio-economic circumstances.
“I don’t judge by appearances,” she said.
She’s keen to sit and listen to the patient’s stories to determine the root of any addiction or ill-health.
Dr Azar had encouraged her to come to Glen Innes, sending photos and singing the praises of the local community. Dr Sanar has also known AMH Medical colleague Dr Sreeja Swamidas for around three years and has been hearing about the great work environment, but at that time there was no position for her.
“Things change, and all signs have been pointing to Glen Innes,” she said.
She has met with practice partners Peter Annetts and Trish Mackay and found them to be the kind of people she wants to work with: trustworthy, welcoming and appreciative, and not solely focused on making money.
Dr Sanar moves to town with a 20-year-old daughter attending university and a six-year-old daughter now at Glen Innes Public School.
The youngster just found a ladybird in their new home, and is sure it’s an auspicious sign.
Dr Sanar isn’t quite so trusting of ladybird prophecies but is happy to go along with it.
“It’s the start of everything,” she said.
“I’m feeling optimistic.”
