By Jena Carr
A Geelong doctor is helping young people explore the medical field and overcome fears in a fun and comfortable way.
Doctor Tetyana Kelly released her second book, the Kookaburra’s Laugh Debacle, in the Dr Ouchy and Nurse Kitty children’s book series this month.
Dr Kelly said the series was about two characters helping other animals in need who were sick or concerned and looked to help children overcome fears of medical visits.
“This will be an opportunity for them to learn something from healthcare that is fun and opens up the idea that hospitals and doctors are not as scary, and it could be fun,” she said.
“It’s a book series based on conditions and illnesses that we may encounter in a hospital and healthcare setting but with an angle to make it more fun and interesting for young readers.
“I thought that there’s not enough literature that is fun and interesting for children to learn about general conditions to make their visits to hospital more fun and interesting and not as scary as it used to be.”
Dr Kelly works as a plastics surgery registrar at the Geelong University Hospital and said the book series aimed to break down stereotypes around hospitals and doctors.
“The image of a doctor has changed, so this was another inspiration to have a female medical worker as the main character,” she said.
“I am hopeful that this will add to current children’s literature because it’s changing and there’s topics that are covered from different angles, but not much is covered from the medical perspective.”
