Laura Stephens new pediatrics specialist at Bathurst Hospital

Doctor Stephens has been in her new role at the Bathurst Hospital for over a month now and said she's been warmly welcomed by her new colleagues, with them having embraced the ideas and plans she has in mind in the coming months.

"They're amazing, such a wonderful team. I'm really, really lucky to have been welcomed, given scope to do all sort of things," Doctor Stephens said on her new work colleagues.

"I'm setting up a clinic in Mudgee to go out to once a month and the hospital was built about 12 years ago, so we're due for a makeover.

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"I'm planning to do some fundraising, to redecorate the ward. We're going to get new floor and new paint. I want to do some themed walls such as a jungle room or an under-the-sea room.

"We've got some space outside that we want to change into a happy garden where families can spend some time while they're here."

Growing up in Bathurst, Doctor Stephens originally went to Bathurst West Public School during primary school before moving to MacKillop College for her high school education.

Having grown up here, she said it's great to come back to an area she's familiar with.

"It's lovely to know my way around and see a few friendly faces, that sort of thing. I've worked in 18 hospitals over my career," she said.

Her journey to complete her training to become a doctor took over a decade, working in over 18 hospitals over the years.

"I've just finished my training, so that was 11 years and I've travelled while I've been doing that, worked all over the place, gained a lot of experience and now it's really nice to bring that home," she said.

"The pathway to becoming a doctor is you go to university for med school but then when you come out it's sort of an apprenticeship model and you train. I've been an intern, a resident, a registrar, a fellow and now I'm a consultant.

"One week a month I'll be the ward consultant. Anyone that gets admitted to hospital is under me, I'm making the decisions, I'll round on them in the morning with the team and then the rest of the time we'll be doing clinics.

"People will send in referrals for anything from babies that aren't sleeping or feeding and up to behavioural problems, growth problems, that sort of thing."

Doctor Stephens will be working in her role full-time and is looking at going out to Oberon, depending on how the clinic in Mudgee goes first.

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