AMA Roll of Fellows

AMA President, Dr Steve Hambleton, announced the additions at the AMA National Conference 2012 in Melbourne.

Induction into the AMA Fellowship formally recognises outstanding contributions made, and service provided to, the AMA and the medical profession.

Dr Hambleton said that the six new Fellows were distinguished representatives of the profession.

“The new Fellows have all excelled in their medical careers, across many specialties,” Dr Hambleton said.

“At the same time, they have dedicated themselves to working for the AMA to improve conditions for doctors and to make the Australian health system work more effectively for patients and communities.”

The AMA welcomes the following new additions to the Roll of Fellows:

Dr Peter Francis Burke MBBS (Melb.), FRCS(Eng.), FRACS, FACEM, DHMSA

During a long and distinguished career, Dr Burke has held senior medical posts in the Victorian health system as well as in the AMA, which he joined in January 1970.

He embarked on a surgical career, initially working at Melbourne’s St Vincent’s Hospital and – following a brief interlude in Britain – he became in 1979 Director of Casualty at the hospital.

It was at this time that he became actively involved with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, particularly with the Archives Committee, which he served as Secretary for 17 years. He also served on other committees, including the Victorian Road Trauma Committee, the National Road Trauma Committee, the Library Committee and others.

Dr Burke was appointed by his peers as spokesperson for the first Younger Fellows Course of the RACS in 1982, and he was awarded a travelling fellowship to study trauma centres in Europe and the USA, following his successful participation in the first EMST course held in Australia. Currently, he serves the ANZ Journal of Surgery as Speciality Editor in Surgical History.

In the 1980s Dr Burke moved from St Vincent’s Hospital to Gippsland, where he has been a senior leader of the medical profession for many years.

Soon after arriving in 1987 Dr Burke found himself chair of the Senior Medical Staff Group at the Latrobe Valley Hospital in Moe. From this time his involvement with AMA Victoria deepened considerably: multiple VMO contract negotiations occurred on a regular basis and strong bonds were formed with Ron Hastings, then CEO of AMA Victoria and Don Joiner, Industrial Officer.

Dr Burke was also heavily involved in negotiations underpinning the establishment of the La Trobe Regional Hospital in 1991, ensuring the views of doctors and the interests of patients were central to the process.

These were most difficult times for the doctors of Gippsland and the AMA proved pivotal in many of the protracted meetings and discussions involved. The “Hospitals Fee for Service Group” was formed around June 1993 and Dr Burke became a vigorous spokesperson representing Gippsland’s views: during these times the “Provincial Hospitals Group” was developed and played a key role through the AMA.

He has always been a passionate advocate for doctors and the AMA.

Dr Burke’s involvement with AMA Victoria has included:

• Member of the Library Committee in the early 1980s;
• Member of AMA Victoria Council, representing the Provincial Hospitals Group between 1997 and 2011;
• Secretary, Gippsland subdivision, 1992-96;
• Chair, Gippsland subdivision/Central West South Gippsland subdivision, 2003-12;
• Specialist representative on the AMA Federal Rural Committee from December 2008; and
• Delegate to AMA National Conferences in Sydney and Hobart.

Dr Burke has been active in his membership and has provided ongoing support to AMA Victoria since becoming a member. He is a most worthy candidate for admittance to the Roll of Fellows.

Dr Christopher Davis MBChB, MBA, FCP (SA), M Med, FRACP, FAFRM.

Dr Christopher Davis is a geriatrician whose integrity, courage, commitment to his profession, his patients and to the Australian Medical Association makes him a worthy recipient of Fellowship of the AMA. He has been Chair of the State Committee of the Australasian College of Physicians, Chair of the State Committee of Medical Colleges, AMA Queensland Councilor, Federal AMA Councilor and AMA Queensland President.

Dr Davis served on AMA Queensland Council from 1999 to 2010, during which time he was elected by his fellow Councilors as Chairman of Council for four terms, assisting successive Presidents who valued enormously his wise counsel and intelligent assessment and advice. As Chairman of Council he was also Chair of the Ethics Committee, and of the Constitutional Review Committee that ensured AMA Queensland would move forward with a new Constitution. This new constitution provided a structure to enable the Association to function under appropriate corporate governance principles while maintaining its essential position as a membership organization acting on behalf of the medical profession and patients.

He served on numerous other committees including the membership committee, during which time there was a significant growth in membership. Dr Davis also provided his expertise as a member of various committees leading to advances in aged care practices, medical workforce development and development of new Queensland Guardianship legislation. He was also a member of the Federal AMA’s Finance and Aged Care Sub-committees.

His integrity and perseverance were never more in focus than when he exposed critical deficiencies in Queensland Health staff appointments. His vigorous pursuit of this matter and the pressure that he placed on Government eventually led to him being granted whistleblower status, and he forced a public apology from the Government.

During his time as Chairman of the Queensland State Committee of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, Dr Davis oversaw growth in training positions and educational activities for physicians and paediatricians in Queensland, as well as a successful amalgamation of the two groups. As Chair of the Queensland Committee of Medical Colleges he established links with AMA Queensland, a step that eventually led to the Committee of Medical Colleges coming under the auspices of AMA Queensland.

As Director of Geriatric Medicine and Rehabilitation at Prince Charles Hospital, Dr Davis provides medical leadership and patient care, research and training in one of Australia’s largest and most comprehensive aged care services. He has seen the expansion of the service from a single ward and geriatrician to one of the largest services of its kind in Australia and globally, embracing a comprehensive range of inpatient, outpatient and outreach services, in addition to teaching healthcare professionals and participating in international research studies. He is a Clinical Senior Lecturer at the University of Queensland.

He was the author of a paper recently published in the Medical Journal of Australia,  ‘Teaching hospital planning: a case study and the need for reform’, - clear evidence of his continued commitment to ensuring decisions by government are made with proper evidence and consultation.

Dr Davis has been steadfast on the need for Queensland Health capital works to comply with the recommendations of the Queensland Health Systems review by Peter Forster in 2005, and he was an invited Reference Panel member of this review, which was established following the Jayant Patel scandal in Bundaberg.

As President of AMA Queensland, Dr Chris Davis saw the Association through a challenging and difficult time, effecting major changes to strengthen the Association’s corporate governance and ensuring appropriate management and financial sustainability. He undertook steps necessary to ensure correct outcomes for the Association, sometimes at great personal cost. His adherence to correct process, and his vast knowledge and experience, were invaluable during this phase of change for AMA Queensland. His ability to deal calmly and effectively with the media was evident as President of the Association during the 2009 State election. He advocated strongly throughout his presidency for investment in healthcare resources, both workforce and infrastructure.

Because of his outstanding contribution and service to the AMA and to the medical profession, Dr Christopher Davis is highly deserving of admission to the Roll of Fellows of the Australian Medical Association.

Dr Henry Douglas Hicks – MBBS, FRACS

Dr Hicks first joined the AMA in 1994 and has been an ongoing member for ten years. Dr Hicks represented the craft group of surgeons on the AMA Federal Council for four years, after which he was elected to a representative position on the AMA (NSW) Council.

Dr Hicks graduated from The University of Sydney in 1982 with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery. He completed his postgraduate training at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPA) in Sydney and obtained Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in 1991.

After spending a year as a Colorectal Fellow at RPA, Dr Hicks then worked as a rural locum for 18 months. He has practiced surgery as a Visiting Medical Officer in the Wagga Wagga area since 1994.

Dr Hicks is currently an AMA (NSW) Councillor representative of the South Zone Class. In this role, he brings his expertise and experience working in the Wagga Wagga area of NSW to the Council and advances the health needs of the rural community.

As a general surgeon and area director of cancer services for the Murrumbidgee Local Health District, Dr Hicks has shown tremendous dedication to rural health and, in particular, cancer centres in the Wagga Wagga area.

His efforts to publicise the needs of cancer patients in rural areas has been demonstrated by his work with major metropolitan newspaper Sydney Morning Herald to produce an article highlighting the concerns of clinicians and patients involved in rural cancer treatment.

Formerly the Senior Vice President of the Australian Association of Surgeons, Dr Hicks has had a number of literary works published concerning colorectal medicine and has presented at numerous meetings of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.

Dr Hicks organised and hosted policy and media events in Wagga Wagga for the Federal AMA, attended by the AMA President, which generated national media coverage and promoted the AMA's leadership role in the medical profession.

Federal AMA also regularly calls on Dr Hicks for media activity as the human face of 'the hard working grassroots rural surgeon dedicated to his local community' - a natural and genuine role for him.

Dr Hicks is a worthy addition to the Roll of Fellows.

Dr Catherine Hutton

Dr Cathy Hutton graduated from University of Melbourne in 1978 with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery. The following year, Dr Hutton started an internship and junior residency at St. Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne and on completion two years later, started working as a Family Medicine RMO at Southern Memorial Hospital, Caulfield. In 1983, Dr Hutton worked in the United Kingdom and received a Diploma of the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and spent two years overseas gaining experience in this field.

On returning to Australia, Dr Hutton began working at the East Preston Community Health Centre as a General Practitioner until 1990. During this time, Dr Hutton became a Fellow at the Royal College of General Practitioners in 1986.

Dr Hutton began working at Margaret Street Clinic, Moonee Ponds, in 1990, a practice that covered all aspects of general practice, with specialisation in women’s health, shared antenatal care and postnatal care of mother and baby, mental health, paediatrics and care of homeless women. In 2009, Dr Hutton and the other doctors of the practice moved to Eastbrooke Medical Clinic, Essendon, and continue to offer high quality general practice.

Dr Hutton became a Board Member of the North West Melbourne Division of General Practice in 2002 and joined AMA Victoria Council, a position she still holds.

In 2005 she became Chair of AMA Victoria’s Section of General Practice, and board member of the Regina Coeli Community (which became McAuley Community Services for Women), providing accommodation and support for homeless women and their children.

In 2006, Dr Hutton was appointed to the AMA Council of General Practice and, the following year, to the Executive Committee. In 2008, she joined the Board of Peter MacCallum Hospital, where she is currently Chair of the Quality Committee, and was appointed Vice President of AMA Victoria Board and completed a Masters of Public Health at the University of Melbourne.

She is currently Deputy Chair of AMA Council of General Practice. She is AMA nominee to the National Immunisation Committee and the Horvath review Working Party of Experts and Implementation Committee.

Dr Hutton is also actively involved in General Practice research. Since 2007 she has been a member of the Victorian Practice Based Research Network and has been involved in projects examining childhood obesity and same-day appointments, and has taken part in primary care collaborative cancer trials. Her commitment to research was recognised by the University of Melbourne last year when it chose her for the award, Excellent Contribution to Research by a General Practitioner.

She supports reduced inequality in healthcare and is a member of the Victorian Women in Mental health Network and has promoted changes, supported by AMA Victoria, that are now being implemented, to ensure safety for women in psychiatric wards.

Dr Hutton’s wide-ranging and enduring efforts to improve health care, and the many roles she has taken on in the AMA and the broader medical community mean that she is a most worthy candidate for admittance to the Roll of Fellows.

Dr Gino Francis Pecoraro MBBS, MRANZCOG, FRANZCOG

When Queensland was lashed by a succession of natural disasters in early 2011, Dr Pecoraro – as AMA Queensland President – was prominent in leading an early response, highlighting both the immediate physical risks and the longer-term emotional and financial stress many would face.

The response was typical of a practitioner who, throughout his career, has expanded his sphere of responsibility well beyond his Brisbane-based obstetrics and gynaecology practice.

He began in private practice in 1997, commenced work as a Visiting Medical Officer a year later, and has since greatly expanded his area of activity to include being a Senior Clinical Lecturer at the University of Queensland, becoming the Obstetricians and Gynaecologists’ representative on AMA Federal Council and sitting on AMA Queensland Council. 

Dr Pecoraro is a board member of RANZCOG, where he serves as Chairman of the Continuing Professional Development Committee, and he has been the Chairman of the Joint Consultative Committee on Obstetrics for ACRRM, RACGP and RANZCOG, and is a member of the Queensland State Committee for RANZCOG. Dr Pecoraro is an active member of numerous other organisations related to his speciality, giving tirelessly of his time, experience and knowledge.

Dr Pecoraro has been unstinting in his work for the AMA, serving on the AMA Queensland Council between 2002 and 2006, and again between 2009 and this year. He was a director on the AMA Queensland Executive between 2004 and 2006, and again between 2009 and 2011, and has served on various AMA Queensland Committees, including chairing the Membership and Business Development Committee. He was a director on the AMAQ Foundation Board in 2010 and 2011.  

In 2009, he was AMA Queensland President Elect, and from June 2010 to June 2011 he served as AMA Queensland President.

As AMA Queensland President, Dr Pecoraro led with courage and great enthusiasm. As mentioned earlier, during the devastating floods, cyclones and other storms that ravaged Queensland in early 2011, Dr Pecoraro raised awareness in the public of the short-term physical effects as well as the long-term emotional, psychological and ensuing financial stress that many families would face. He launched AMA Queensland’s “See the Signs” campaign that, with AMAQ Foundation support, gained broad media coverage and, in late 2011, included the production of a “Suicide Watch” video and television advertisement.

Dr Pecoraro’s focus during his presidency was on honesty in the health system. This became a particular issue in mid-2011 when several Queensland hospitals announced they would refuse to accept patient referrals from GPs to public hospital specialists, and returned referral letters. This was a direct contravention of Section 19 of the National Healthcare Agreement by terminating the right of patients to choose to receive free health care as public patients. Dr Pecoraro lobbied strongly and widely to counter this breach and its effect on patients. His efforts were rewarded when Queensland Health gave a commitment that GP referrals would be accepted by its hospitals.

Dr Pecoraro successfully lobbied the-then Health Minister, Paul Lucas, to raise the profession’s concerns over mandatory reporting at the Australian Health Ministers’ Conference. The Minister carried through and as a result, an independent group was established to review mandatory reporting requirements under the current law.

Dr Pecoraro represented the interests and concerns of general practitioners, particularly regarding proposed federal health reform changes that affected GPs. He led an AMA Queensland campaign,  “General Practice under Threat”, that focused on many of the issues affecting general practitioners, including GP Super Clinics, Medicare Locals, bulk billing clinics in public hospitals, independent nurse practitioners and local hospital networks.

Dr Pecoraro tirelessly and passionately supported the AMA Queensland’s investment in the award-winning “Find A Doctor” iPhone application and website. The app, which both promotes AMA doctors and enables members of the public to find an AMA doctor “anytime, anywhere”, won the Most Innovative Use of Technology Award at the AMA National Conference in May 2011.

Dr Pecoraro’s contribution to the AMA, his profession, colleagues and patients has been one of great passion, integrity and unwavering commitment. He continues to wear many hats as a doctor, advocate, teacher and mentor, making him highly deserving of admission to the Roll of Fellow of the Australian Medical Association. 

Dr Gary Raymond Speck, BMedSc (Hons.), MBBS, FRACS, FA(Orth), RACS, SICOT, NASS, ISMISS, ISIS, AOA, SSA

From his earliest days of involvement with the AMA as a Resident Medical Officer campaigning for an improvement in conditions, Dr Speck has been an active and successful contributor in his specialty of orthopaedics as well as to the broader medical profession.

Dr Speck has developed to become a leading authority in the treatment of spinal disorders, advising and instructing fellow doctors, doctors and international colleagues in the field of spinal care, particularly minimally-invasive surgery.

Dr Speck has been engaged in AMA activities throughout his career, and was Federal Vice President between 2007 and 2009, and is a director of AMA Victoria.

He qualified as an Orthopaedic Surgeon in 1983 and, after gaining experience overseas, he returned to Australia in 1985 to become Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at the Alfred Hospital, a position he held from 1985 to 1991, and again from 2010. He has specialised his practice to the treatment of spinal disorders.

Dr Speck is the Australian delegate to the International Society for Minimal Intervention in Spinal Surgery. He is an active member of the Spine Society of Australia, Australian Orthopaedic Association, North American Spine Society, SICOT and Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.

He is a respected educator, conducting lectures at Monash, Melbourne and Latrobe universities, as well as instructing other doctors regarding spinal assessment for injuries, and he is a consultant on professional issues to government.

Until 2007 he was a member of the board of Continuing Professional Development and Standards of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, a member of the executive committee of the Spine Society of Australia and a member of the Australian Government PDS Clinical Advisory Group for Spinal implants.

He has been Chairman of the Spine Reference Group for Spinal Impairment for the Victorian WorkCover Authority and Transport Accident Commission from 1997, and is chairman of the Patient Care Review Committee at the Avenue Hospital. He teaches impairment assessment as part of the AMA Victoria training program.

He is Chairman of the Australian Society of Orthopaedic Surgeons and Council of Procedural Specialists.

Dr Speck began his involvement with the AMA upon graduation when he became the RMO representative on Branch Council and led a successful campaign to change RMO conditions. He has remained engaged and committed since.  From May 2007 to 2009 he was Federal Vice President of the Australian Medical Association and for the past two years he has been a director of AMA Victoria and chair of the TAC Worksafe Committee and member of the Audit and Finance Committee.

Dr Speck has made an outstanding contribution to the AMA and to AMA Victoria through his long-term support and active membership, and is a most worthy candidate for admittance to the Roll of Fellows.

25 May 2012

CONTACT:         John Flannery                       02 6270 5477 / 0419 494 761

                       Kirsty Waterford                  02 6270 5464 / 0427 209 753

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