GPs honoured at 2016 AMA National Conference
A number of GPs were honoured with awards at the 2016 AMA National Conference:
Dr Graeme Killer, a Vietnam War veteran who has devoted his life to improve the care of current and retired Defence Force personnel, was awarded an AMA President’s Award. In his role with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Dr Killer instituted care planning and preventive annual health assessments, initiated the Health Links Program to provide continuity of care for personnel after leaving the Defence Force and helped establish the DVA’s ground-breaking Coordinated Veterans’ Care Program, which has become a model for GP-led coordinated care across the community.
In his long and significant career, Dr Killer has served as personal physician to several Prime Ministers and Governors-General. He was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1999, for services to the veteran community, is an honorary life member of the RSL, and last year was awarded an honorary doctorate of medicine from the University of Adelaide in recognition of his contribution to veterans’ health.
Excellence in Healthcare Award
Associate Professor John Boffa, Chief Medical Officer of Public Health at the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress Aboriginal Corporation and Ms Donna Ah Chee, Chief Executive Officer of the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, who have made an enormous contribution to reducing harms of alcohol and improving early childhood outcomes for Aboriginal children, were recognised by the AMA with its Excellence in Healthcare Award for 2016.
Among the five doctors inducted into the AMA Roll of Fellows last weekend in recognition of the outstanding contribution each has made to both the AMA and the medical profession were three GPs: hugely influential rural GP Dr Paul Mara, AMA Victoria President Dr Tony Bartone (now AMA Vice President), and Hervey Bay GP and former AMA Queensland President Dr Shaun Rudd.
Each new AMA Fellow carries an impressive record of achievement. The full media release and full citations for the five new Fellows are available on the AMA website.
