Medicine, mentorship and motherhood

Past President Dr Maria Boulton and daughter Lara reflect on medicine, family and the inspiration that spans generations.

This Mother’s Day, AMA Queensland celebrates the bond between Past President Dr Maria Boulton and her daughter Lara, who is studying biomedical science and hopes to become a doctor.

For Dr Boulton, medicine has always been about people, community and compassion. As a GP, advocate and former AMA Queensland President, she has spent decades caring for patients across regional Queensland.

Now, she is watching the next generation begin its own journey.

Ahead of Mother’s Day, Maria and Lara sat down with AMA Queensland to reflect on family life, shared values and the inspiration behind Lara’s interest in medicine.

Dr Maria Boulton:

When did you get a sense Lara had an inkling for medicine?
Lara has always been a very diligent student, with an incredible ability to focus and concentrate. Even as a young child, she could immerse herself in a task and stay with it until it was finished. It came as no surprise when, during Year 10 subject selection, she shared her desire to study medicine. It felt like a very natural fit for her strengths and personality.

She has also always been naturally caring and curious about people, with a calm and thoughtful nature. Looking back now, those qualities — alongside her determination and love of learning — were probably early signs that medicine would suit her so well.

Medicine is also very much part of her family history. Her paternal grandparents are both doctors, and she shares her grandfather Ross’s love of anatomy. On my side of the family, I also had two uncles who were doctors, so there is certainly a strong connection to medicine across generations.

What kind of discussions would you have about your work as Lara grew up?
I have always been very open with my children about my work. As a GP in Mackay, there were times when both of my children would accompany me to the hospital or local aged care facilities on weekends or after hours while I visited patients. They also saw me delivering community education sessions on health issues and participating in meetings and media interviews during my time as President of AMA Queensland.

Medicine and advocacy were simply part of everyday life in our household, so Lara grew up with a strong understanding of the role doctors can play both within the community and beyond the consulting room.

What do you think are Lara’s qualities that make her suited to medicine?
Lara is thoroughly enjoying her studies in Biomed. She is intelligent, compassionate, caring and hardworking, with a genuine love of learning. She is also very well rounded — she enjoys sport, values her friendships and has a lovely group of friends around her. I think her empathy, curiosity and strong work ethic will serve her very well in medicine.

What do you think are the similarities and/or differences facing young doctors starting their studies and careers now compared to when you did the same?
Entry into medicine seems far more competitive now than when I was applying. At the same time, there are many more options for where students can study, and medical training appears to involve earlier and more extensive clinical exposure, which is excellent.

I would strongly encourage Lara to spend some time training in rural and regional areas. Rural medicine offers extraordinary learning opportunities and provides medical students with a breadth of experience that is difficult to replicate elsewhere.

What else do you treasure about your relationship with Lara, inside and outside of medicine?
I have always loved spending time with Lara, ever since she was little. She is self-motivated, determined and has always worked hard to achieve her goals. She is wonderful company and brings a lot of joy to those around her. She is creative and paints the most beautiful art and cards that I will treasure forever.

I am incredibly proud of the person she has become. She is always willing to embrace new experiences — whether that is four-wheel driving, wake surfing or moving to another city for her studies — and I admire her confidence and enthusiasm for life.

Lara Boulton:

What are your earliest memories of your Mum as a doctor?
One of my earliest memories of Mum as a doctor is her caring for my brother and I when we were sick. She always managed to make us feel better, not just physically but also emotionally. That feeling of comfort she created is another big reason why I aspire to be doctor as well.

When did you start thinking medicine might be your career path too, and what are your goals?
I started thinking about medicine when senior subject selection rolled around in Grade 10. I realised I enjoyed science most of all and had a particular interest in the human body. Growing up with Mum as a GP and other doctors in the family, I was always aware of how meaningful the work can be. Now, as I am studying biomedical science, it has reinforced my aspiration to pursue medicine.

One of my goals is to make a meaningful and positive impact on every person I meet. Having Mum as my role model shows me what this looks like at work and in everyday life and inspires me to bring the same care and commitment to my future career.

What are the pros and cons of following in your Mum’s footsteps?
One of the biggest pros of following in Mum’s footsteps is having a strong role model. I have seen how rewarding medicine can be and how much of a difference one doctor can make, both for individuals and for the community. Mum is the kind of caring, dedicated doctor I wish to become. It also means I have someone close who understands the demands of studying to get into medicine and can offer the best support and advice when I need it. While I have a lot of self-expectation, it is comforting to know that Mum has a lot of encouragement for me.

What’s the best advice your Mum has given you – inside or outside of medicine?
One of the best pieces of advice Mum has given me is to try my best. As long as I put my all into something, that’s all that really matters. She reminds me of this when I have a demanding assessment, when learning something new, or even in everyday life. This really helps take the pressure off myself to be “perfect” and instead focus on doing my best work and learning from the experience.

What are things you have in common with your Mum, and what’s a hobby or passion that’s all your own?
Mum and I are very similar in our determination. We are both hardworking, driven, and organised when we set a goal for ourselves, whether that is in study or other parts of life. We both strongly value education and are always learning new things. A hobby of mine is painting, which I enjoy during my holidays. Painting helps me balance the demanding nature of my degree with my desire to do something creative.