Dr Sarah Gleeson grew up near Moree in northern NSW on a cattle and cropping property. A resident of Goondiwindi since 2011, Sarah is a practice partner and senior GP at Goondiwindi Medical Centre. Sarah has advanced skills in obstetrics and gynaecology. She brings skills in women’s health, men’s health, paediatrics, and emergency care to Goondiwindi Medical Centre and Goondiwindi Hospital. She is also the 2025 RDAQ Conference Convenor.
Sarah often reminisces about spending her school holidays as a receptionist at the Frome Street Medical Centre in Moree, occasionally bearing witness to some interesting medical cases! Sarah initially considered a career in veterinary science until her careers advisor suggested she not ruin a hobby by making it a career and guided her towards medicine.
After completing year 12 at a boarding school in Tamworth, Sarah studied medicine at the University of Adelaide. She spent her summer university holidays in rural clinical schools and placements - witnessing her first birth in her first year of university, thanks to stalwart Dr Bill Hunter, a GPO and GP Surgeon in NSW. Later in her career, Sarah had the profound experience of assisting Bill with a caesarean section. This was a significant moment - Bill had arranged for Sarah to be retrieved as a toddler when she was suffering from acute renal failure. Reflecting on that time, Bill remarked, ‘I can’t believe I am standing here with you performing this caesarean!’.
Whilst at university, Sarah took an opportunity to return to Moree with mentor Dr Tony McDevitt as part of her commitment as a RAMUS scholar. She always knew that living and working in a rural setting was important to her. Sarah completed her rural terms in Adelaide before moving to Toowoomba for an internship. ‘Toowoomba is a great breeding ground for RGs and was an obvious choice being a little closer to home. The consultants in Toowoomba are excellent and realise how valuable the rural workforce is.’ After narrowing future pathways down to surgery, emergency or rural generalism, Sarah decided to make her own way in rural generalism. Sarah loved her first term in Goondiwindi as an RMO, followed by 6 months in rural general practice in her hometown of Moree.
After successfully applying for AST in anaesthetics, and O&G, Sarah chose to focus on O&G. She had realised during her first general practice term that she would use that advanced skill every day. During a formative year in Tamworth, Sarah gained invaluable experience as a junior RG through diverse and challenging clinical cases, giving her the confidence to manage emergency situations under the guidance of 3 amazing consultants, and later as an independent RG.
The maternity model of care was a major factor in Sarah’s return to Goondiwindi. ‘I absolutely love the model of care in Goondiwindi. We offer a great service because of our close collaboration with our midwifery colleagues. Historically, many women would travel to Toowoomba to give birth, so being able to offer high-quality care for women and babies close to home is excellent. Our model of care is so successful because we have the leadership and culture right. We trust each other, communicate well, have skilled midwives, and work to the top of our skill set. This, combined with our strong sense of camaraderie, makes for an enjoyable workplace’.
Sarah finds working across both the hospital and general practice very rewarding. ‘It brings me the greatest sense of satisfaction and connection to my community to work alongside my medical, midwifery and nursing colleagues whilst taking great care of the women and their babies in our town. The continuity of care across pregnancies, joining women on their entire journey of preconception, antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care is an absolute privilege. Seeing some of the babies I delivered starting high school this year is simply wonderful.’
Sarah is also passionate about trying to close the gap for Indigenous patients and provides a weekly outreach service to Boggabilla Community Health Clinic.
Like many rural practitioners juggling work, family, and social networks, time is a precious commodity. Sarah takes a conscious approach to balancing her many roles, relying on good support networks, prioritising what matters and practising self-care. ‘I have an amazing husband (Tim) who does a lot of the heavy lifting for the practical side of parenting, and I make efforts to “switch off” so I can do stuff with my boys on my days off. 9 days out of 10 we have dinner as a family. I also have a cleaner and an ironing lady. Exercise is important. I have tennis lessons, a weekly PT session, and a weekly cycle on my wind trainer while I have a video call with a RG friend in Tassie. I also have an excellent psychologist who I check in with monthly - this has been a game changer for me.’
Sarah’s tip for staying on top of everything – a trusty calendar. ‘I rely heavily on Google Calendar and Google Tasks. My friends tease me a little, but I book nearly everything on my calendar, even a coffee!’
Sarah is passionate about encouraging the next generation of rural generalists, particularly those in O&G, to embrace the personal and clinical benefits of working in primary care. ‘In terms of the future of rural generalism, generally, I think we need to head back towards the “centre” and encourage our RGs, particularly O&G RGs about the benefits, both clinically and personally, of working in primary care. That’s where many of the “good feels” are. This is such a great profession with immense personal satisfaction and the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of rural families. I have found my ideal career and I’m keen to ensure others get to experience it too’.