Dr Sarah Dalton

What was your first job?

My first ever job was working in a toy shop in a big Westfield shopping centre – no wonder I became a paediatrician! My first medical job was as an intern on a rural medical scholarship at a large hospital in regional NSW.

What are your current roles? What made you decide to pursue these?

Right now I am working as a Paediatric Urgent Care telehealth doctor, Clinical Lead for a large digital health transformation and also offering coaching for doctors. For me this is all about clinical leadership and supporting other clinical leaders to improve healthcare.

How would you describe what you do now?

I think the best way to describe what I do is finding ways to help clinicians do their best work – I love working with people to creatively solve problems. Being a doctor, a leader and a coach are all about investing in others to help them improve their situation in some way.

How would someone interested in your field get started or find more information?

To get more experience in leadership roles I think it’s worth getting involved with whatever committees or groups you are interested in … take on a leadership role in the group if you can.  Hospitals, Professional Colleges and Societies or Special Interest Groups are great places to learn, network and potentially meet some great mentors.

What was one really good piece of advice someone has told you?

It’s a classic, but one thing that sticks with me is “If the door opens walk through it” …. If you have curiosity to learn, then that door will very often lead to another – sometimes unexpected – door. And whatever happens you learn so much about what you like / don’t like and a great deal about the next door you are looking for!