AMA announces prestigious health and medical awards

Dr Patricia Mackay, who has had a long standing interest in anaesthesia safety.

Dr Mackay has promoted emergency concepts for mechanical ventilation in patients with impaired respiration due to head injuries, polyneuritis, tetanus and myasthenia gravis. This established the beginning of modern intensive care management at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and foreshadowed the development of dedicated intensive care units worldwide in the 1960's.

Dr Mackay was the Chairman and Head of the Anaesthetic Department at the Royal Melbourne Hospital from 1984 to 1992 and remains a consultant anaesthetist to the hospital.

The AMA Women's Health Award has been presented to Adelaide's Dr Tania Black, currently the senior Medical Practitioner at Breastscreen South Australia, for her outstanding contribution to women's health.

Dr Black has worked in many fields relating to women's health - including as a counsellor and doctor for thousands of rape and sexual assault victims.

In 1995, Dr Black took up her current position with Breastscreen South Australia where she helps women who are newly diagnosed with breast cancer.

The Wyeth/Medical Journal of Australia Award recognises significant original biomedical research published in the Journal. This year's award has been presented to Dr Wendy Hoy, Dr Philip Baker, Ms Angela Kelly and

Dr Zhiqiang Wang, all from the Menzies School of Health Research in Darwin.

The award recognises their clinical research into reducing renal failure and premature death in Aboriginal Australians. Five years ago, Dr Hoy and her colleagues introduced into Aboriginal communities a systematic interventional program for managing hypertension and other risk factors for cardiovascular and renal diseases, such as diabetes.

Dr Hoy has demonstrated that these simple interventions with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, rigorous blood pressure control and lifestyle changes have had a beneficial effect on hypertension control and in reducing end stage renal failure and premature death.

And also presented tonight was the prestigious AMA President's Award which has this year been given to Melbourne gynaecologist and AMA Victoria member, Dr Chris Maxwell.

Dr Maxwell has been actively involved with the AMA since 1986.

He played an integral role in the Tito Review of Medical Indemnity between 1992 and 1995. He currently serves on the AMA's Medical Professional Indemnity Task Force.

In 1999 he became a Councillor and then a Board member of the Australian Council of Health Care Standards.

"In all of these positions he has served with distinction and as an advocate for his profession. Dr Maxwell remains an inspiration to his colleagues and to the wider medical profession," Dr Phelps said.

"Congratulations to all of the AMA's 2001 award winners," she said.

The awards were presented tonight at Melbourne's Hotel Sofitel as part of the AMA's National Conference 2001.

CONTACT: Sarah Bucknell (02) 6270 5472 (0419) 440 076