Olympian Jana Pittman leaps into medical career with Blacktown Hospital
After years of study, Aussie sporting legend Jana Pittman will launch her medical career at Blacktown Hospital.
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Australian sporting legend Jana Pittman will hit the ground running and kickstart her medical career at Blacktown Hospital.
The 36-year-old Olympian and world champion track athlete will embark on her new career as a doctor and is set to start work as a junior medical officer.
The Hills mother of three is already a familiar face at the hospital where she trained in the gynaecology and obstetrics ward.
Pittman set her sights on medicine in 2013 and her career change comes after a 14-year athletic career and a battle with cervical cancer.
She will be a special guest at this week’s Western Sydney Health Forum, where she will officially announce the news.
Pittman will talk at the forum about her transition from sport to medicine and reveal why Blacktown was her first choice.
The career milestone comes after more than six years of study, during which Pittman aimed to become an advocate for women’s health.
The forum will look at some of the key achievements of the local health district over the last financial year and feature an interactive panel discussion with health experts.
Members of the audience are invited to ask questions they may have about their local health service.
Health district chief executive Graeme Loy said it had been an excellent year for health services in western Sydney.
“Over the last financial year we have delivered 10,658 babies, performed 44,628 surgeries and treated 200,000 people in our emergency departments,” Mr Loy said.
“We’ve had a huge year of infrastructure development with our facilities getting bigger, future-proofing our ability to service the health needs for an expanding population.
“We’ve also strengthened relationships with our Aboriginal community, attracted millions in research funding to inform better patient care and developed our partnerships and important work with the Western Sydney Primary Health Network.
“I encourage the community to come along to this year’s Western Sydney Health Forum to find out more about our biggest milestones and achievements, and what the future will look like.”
The public is also invited to an open day prior to the forum, which will include behind-the-scenes tours of Blacktown Hospital’s new nine-storey central acute services building, part of Blacktown and Mount Druitt hospitals’ $700 million expansion project.
Got a question about the future of health in western Sydney? Submit your question and an expert panel could address your query at the forum. Email: wslhd-thepulse@health.nsw.gov.au
Western Sydney Local Health Forum: Thursday, October 31, 5.30pm for 6pm start. Auditorium, Western Sydney University Clinical School, Blacktown Hospital.
Open Day and Hospital Tours: Thursday, October 31, stalls and tours begin at 4pm. Blacktown Hospital main entrance.
To register, visit the website.