AMA Awards 2008 - President's Awards

• Mr Paul Boyatzis,CEO of AMA WA;
• Mr Kerry Gallagher,CEO of AMA Queensland; and
• Mr Martin Van Der Weyden,Editor of the Medical Journal of Australia and Chief Executive of the Australasian Medical Publishing Company.

Dr Capolingua said Paul Boyatzis and Kerry Gallagher won the AMA President's Award for outstanding contribution towards fostering the objectives of the AMA.

"Mr Boyatzis has been the CEO of AMA(WA) for the past two decades and has continued to put members' needs first. He has made substantial inroads in public health and, besides the more traditional areas of smoking, drugs and alcohol, his greatest work has been in establishing the Dr Yes and the Youth Friendly Doctor programs," she said.

Mr Gallagher had been involved in developing and managing several major AMA campaigns and has been active in helping GPs to build stronger practices.

"As Managing Director of AMAQ Services, he has managed to transform it from what was essentially a locum service to a business service that covers all aspects of human and financial resource management for the medical profession.

"Dr Van Der Weyden is recognised for his services to the Medical Journal of Australia, the medical profession and the AMA," Dr Capolingua said.

He has enjoyed a distinguished, 30-year career in medical practice, teaching and medical administration and ensured the continuing reputation of the Medical Journal of Australia as Australia's premier peer-reviewed medical journal.

"He has also managed to raise the profile of medical science and the profession by making the Journal more relevant to general audiences by publishing thematic coverage of medical issues," she said.

Dr Capolingua announced the awards at the AMA National Conference in Hobart last night.

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