Raina MacIntyre confirmed for AMA National Conference

Epidemiologist, Dr Raina MacIntyre, is the latest high-profile guest to confirm her participation in the AMA’s National Conference next month. Join her and your colleagues and have a say in the future of your profession, register now.

Known for her expertise on the behaviour of viruses, and a prominent commentator throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr MacIntyre will participate in a “mini Royal Commission” into Australia’s COVID-19 response to be conducted at the AMA National Conference.

The session is designed to forensically dissect how Australia handled the COVID-19 coronavirus when it arrived on our shores in January 2020. Dr McIntyre, who is head of the Kirby Institute’s biosecurity program, will be joined in the session by the Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly, AMA Queensland President Dr Maria Boulton, and two members of the Health Advisory Panel for Youth at The University of Sydney from School of Health Sciences in Faculty of Medicine and Health.

Running from 29-31 July, the conference will examine many of the changes to medical practice that resulted from the pandemic with interactive sessions, where doctors can debate issues with the experts.

The engaging sessions across two days are designed to be provocative and spark debate on the issues facing doctors today.

Headline international guest, Dr Anthony Fauci, has served under six US presidents. Dr Fauci not only led the United States response to COVID-19 but, over the years, has tackled other health emergencies including the AIDS pandemic, Ebola, Zika virus and anthrax scares in the United Sates.  

Other conference highlights include a “Question Time” style session with new Health Minister, Mark Butler and his opposition counterpart, Anne Ruston who will take doctors’ questions, unscripted from the floor.

One of the key issues facing the profession and the country’s health system is our health workforce. To hear why, and contribute to discussion of the issues in our sector, join Professor Brendan Murphy, Secretary of the Department of Health in a session on keeping doctors in medicine post-pandemic.

Are the workforce shortages worse in rural areas and how does that affect our rural patients? Join the National Rural Health Commissioner, Assoc Professor Ruth Stewart and Dr Sarah Chalmers, president of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine President for our session on rural health issues. It asks: “Are rural doctors are more resourceful than their urban counterparts?”

The third day of the conference will see AMA delegates formulate advocacy messaging to take to government. With plenty of opportunity to mingle face-to-face at the conference and socialise in the evenings, it’s a chance to get into the ears of the delegates and let them know what’s most important to you.

The election of the new AMA President and Vice President will be held and successful candidates announced at the conference; with their two-year term beginning from that moment.

Be part of the buzz of the election, see old friends, reconnect and discuss the challenges of the past few years while celebrating our resilience as a profession.

A gala dinner with a celebrity guest doctor as special dinner speaker will be held on the Friday night and conference drinks on the Saturday night will allow time for fun, socialising and celebration as well.  Click here to register.