Media release

AMA President’s Award recognises Chief Health Officers’ outstanding roles during pandemic

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) has recognised the outstanding service and medical leadership shown by the state Chief Health Officers and Commonwealth Chief Medical Officers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The AMA President’s Award has been granted to ten Commonwealth, State and Territory Chief Medical and Health Officers (CMOs and CHOs) for their exemplary roles during the pandemic in providing leadership to Australian governments and members of the community.

The Award was made as part of the AMA National Conference 2021, which is taking place online on 28-31 July.

AMA President Dr Omar Khorshid said the CMOs and CHOs had provided expert health guidance to Australians during and unprecedented health emergency, which had challenged us all in ways that we could not have envisaged before the pandemic.

The recipients of the AMA President’s Award are:

  • Professor Brendan Murphy and Professor Paul Kelly (as previous and current Commonwealth Chief Medical Officers)
  • Dr Kerryn Coleman (ACT Chief Health Officer)
  • Dr Jeannette Young (Qld Chief Health Officer)
  • Dr Hugh Heggie (NT Chief Health Officer)
  • Professor Nicola Spurrier (SA Chief Public Health Officer)
  • Dr Andrew Robertson (WA Chief Health Officer)
  • Dr Kerry Chant (NSW Chief Health Officer)
  • Professor Brett Sutton (Vic Chief Health Officer)
  • Professor Tony Lawler (Tas Chief Medical Officer)

Dr Khorshid said that the CMOs and CHOs had served with great distinction during a very difficult time and they were a credit to the nation and their medical profession.

“They have not only guided the community with their medical expertise and knowledge, but also with compassion, accessibility and resilience to be able stand up every day to, sometimes, deliver bad news while underlining to the community that we are all in this together and the way out is working together,” he said.

“I believe these awards are well deserved and recognise the recipients’ extraordinary contributions and I’m sure that Australians will join me in giving the Chief Medical and Health Officers our sincere gratitude for their work.”

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