By way of introduction, my name is James Vandeleur, general practitioner at Infinity Health Medical Centre, Green Square.
Many people ask me why I decided to choose medicine as a career and, in particular, why general practice and why Infinity Health Green Square.
Having spent the first few years of life in inner Sydney, my family decided to move to a small plot of land on the Central Coast of NSW which was surrounded by farmland but which also had a deep gully covered with native temperate rainforest and a pristine creek running along its base. When I wasn’t playing rugby league, surfing and at school I spent a lot of time exploring the bush and creek, observing both the terrestrial and aquatic creatures. Looking back, I would have to say, it was this childhood fascination with the natural world that was the reason I subsequently decided to enrol in the double degree Science/Medicine at the University of NSW. In the Science part of my degree I majored in membrane and electrophysiology.
I decided on general practice as a specialty because it seemed to fit in best with my lifestyle – with its relatively civilised hours – and seemed to me to be the ideal setting for expanding my interest in preventative medicine – more specifically in implementing practical ways for my patients to maximise their health spans.
Preventative medicine basically boils down to adopting and maintaining a healthy diet, adequate exercise, and weight control. Minimising stress and getting optimal sleep are also important factors. These measures are most effective when started early in life and maintained – the earlier the start, the better.
Green Square, with its relatively young demographic, is the ideal location for a doctor who has an interest in preventative medicine. This is the main reasons I chose to join Infinity Health. In addition, the state-of-the-art design and fit-out of the medical centre and its beautiful surrounds made my decision even easier.