2017 AMA National Conference 26-28 May
The 2017 AMA National Conference at the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins, from 26-28 May, will feature an impressive line-up of influential political and health leaders, speakers and panellists, led by Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull.
The high priority of health policy in the current political debate is underlined by the attendance also of Opposition Leader, Bill Shorten; Health Minister, Greg Hunt; Minister for Indigenous Health and Aged Care, Ken Wyatt AM; Shadow Health Minister, Catherine King; and Greens Leader, Senator Richard Di Natale, at the AMA’s annual premier event.
The Conference will feature a high-level panel discussion of the Big Health Issues of 2017, moderated by Paul Bongiorno AM; induction of new AMA Fellows; the Leadership Development Dinner; Indigenous Medical Scholarship; Gala Dinner; and delegate Soapbox.
Policy sessions cover Health Care in Danger, Doctors’ Health and Wellbeing, Threats Beyond Borders, Improving Australia’s Organ Donation Rate, and Tackling Obesity.
The Prime Minister will address the Conference at 11.30am on Saturday 27 May.
Highlights of the Conference include:
Friday 26 May 2017
10.10am Welcome to Country
10.30am President’s Welcome and President’s Statement
AMA President, Dr Michael Gannon
10.50am Health Minister, The Hon Greg Hunt MP
11.15am Opposition Leader, The Hon Bill Shorten MP
11.40am Shadow Health Minister, The Hon Catherine King MP
12.05pm Greens Leader, Senator Richard Di Natale
12.30pm Medical Journal of Australia (MJA) MDA National Prize for Excellence in Medical Research
AMA Indigenous Medical Scholarship
2.20pm POLICY SESSION: Health Policy: The Big Issues in 2017
Moderator: Paul Bongiorno AM, The Saturday Paper, Network Ten
Panel: The Hon Ken Wyatt AM, Minister for Indigenous Health and Minister for Aged Care
Dr Dwayne Crombie, Managing Director, Bupa Private Health Insurance
Dr Liz Marles, Sydney GP and former RACGP President
Adjunct Professor Toby Hall, Group CEO, St Vincent’s Health Australia
AMA President, Dr Michael Gannon
4.20pm Presentation of inductees to the AMA Roll of Fellows
5.30pm President’s Welcome Reception – Sofitel Melbourne on Collins
AMA National Tobacco Scoreboard Achievement Award for best tobacco control actions by a State or Territory government
AMA Dirty Ashtray Award for worst tobacco control actions by a State or Territory government
AMA Award for best public health program from a State or Territory government
AMA Media Awards for best lobbying, public health advocacy, publication, and website by a State or Territory AMA
AMA Woman in Medicine Award
AMA Women’s Health Award
AMA Excellence in Healthcare Award
7.30pm Leadership Development Dinner – Eureka 89, Eureka Tower, Southbank
Guest Speaker: Dr Bronwyn King, Radiation Oncologist and CEO Tobacco Free Portfolios
AMA Doctor in Training of the Year Award
Saturday 27 May:
9.05am POLICY SESSION: Health Care in Danger
Chair: AMA President, Dr Michael Gannon
Presenter: Ms Natalya Wells, Policy and Political Affairs Officer, International Committee of the Red Cross
The Health Care in Danger project aims to address the issue of violence against patients, healthcare workers, facilities, and vehicles, and ensure safe access and delivery of health care in armed conflict and other emergencies.
10.10am POLICY SESSION: Doctors’ Health and Wellbeing
Chair: Dr John Zorbas, Chair, AMA Council of Doctors in Training
Dr Kairi Kõlves, Principal Research Fellow, Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, Griffith University
Dr Janette Randall, Chair, Board of Directors, Doctors Health Services Pty Ltd (DrHS)
Ms Fiona Shand, Research Fellow, Black Dog Institute Lifespan strategy
Dr Bav Manoharan, AMAQ Resilience on the Run Program
Dr Anjali Dhulia, Director Medical Services, Monash Health
Ms Marie Jepson, Executive Director, The Tristan Jepson Memorial Foundation
11.30am*** Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull
11.55am Address by AMSA President, Rob Thomas
1.25pm POLICY SESSION: Threats Beyond Borders
Moderator: Ms Julie McCrossin - journalist, facilitator, and trainer
Panel: Professor Bart Currie, Infectious Diseases Physician, Royal Darwin Hospital & Menzies School of Health Research
Ms Sophie Scott, Medical Reporter, ABC
Professor Cheryl Jones, President, Australasian Society of Infectious Diseases
Dr Anthony Hobbs, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Federal Department of Health
3.25pm POLICY SESSION: Improving Australia’s Organ Donation Rate - Ethical and Practical Issues
Chair: Professor Geoff Dobb, Head of Intensive Care, Royal Perth Hospital
Panel:
The Hon Ken Wyatt AM, Minister for Indigenous Health and Minister for Aged Care
Mr Allan Turner, co-founder, Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation
Professor Wendy Rogers, Professor of Clinical Ethics, Department of Clinical Medicine and the Philosophy Department, Macquarie University
Dr Helen Opdam, National Medical Director, Australian Organ and Tissue Authority
Mr Jason Ryan, Chairman, Transplant Australia
7.30pm Gala Dinner – Presentation of AMA President’s Award and AMA Gold Medal
Sunday 28 May:
9.00am POLICY SESSION: Tackling Obesity
Chair:
Professor Brad Frankum, AMA NSW President
Panel:
Dr Tony Bartone, AMA Vice President
Ms Jane Flemming, Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games athlete, Director – Live Life Get Active
Professor Stephen Duckett, Health Program Director, Grattan Institute
Mr Ahmad Aly, President, Obesity Surgery Society of Australia and New Zealand (OSSANZ)
Dr Geoffrey Annison, Deputy Chief Executive and Director – Health, Nutrition, and Scientific Affairs, Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC)
Professor Steve Allender, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University
**Most policy sessions will be live streamed on the AMA website at https://ama.com.au/
**Media are welcome to attend the Conference and Gala Dinner. There will be a media work room at the Sofitel on Collins, and a room for media conferences and interviews.
Please advise Meredith Horne at mhorne@ama.com.au or on 02 6270 5464 if you will be attending the Conference, Gala Dinner, and Welcome Reception.
Journalists and crews attending the Conference to interview the Prime Minister, Opposition Leader, Minister Hunt, Minister Wyatt, Senator Di Natale, or Shadow Minister King should coordinate with Maria Hawthorne at mhawthorne@ama.com.au or on 0427 209 753, and Odette Visser at ovisser@ama.com.au or on 0407 726 905.
**The Twitter hashtag for the Conference is #amanatcon
More information is on the National Conference website.
1 May 2017
CONTACT: John Flannery 02 6270 5477 / 0419 494 761
Maria Hawthorne 02 6270 5478 / 0427 209 753
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