Dedicated GP advocate wins AMA President's Award
A long-serving and dedicated GP, who has been a constant advocate for general practice for almost three decades, has been recognised with one of the AMA’s highest awards, the President’s Award.
Professor Bernard Pearn-Rowe has juggled maintaining his solo GP practice in Perth with his active roles in AMA WA medical politics, including a term as AMA WA President, and his appointment as Foundation Professor of Clinical Studies at the University of Notre Dame.
“Prof Pearn-Rowe has been a stalwart of general practice advocacy for almost 30 years,” AMA President, Dr Michael Gannon, said.
“He understands from personal experience the challenges facing GPs every day, making him an informed and effective advocate.
“During his time as Convenor of the federal AMA Council of General Practice (CGP), he has contributed to key policy areas including the role of general practice in primary care, e-health, medical education and training, GP workforce, red tape reduction, health care homes, and the role of GPs in disaster situations.
“Prof Pearn-Rowe has been part of an AMA CGP that has emphasised the importance of quality general practice and the need for Governments to support this as part of a high quality, sustainable health care system.
“Amid his many commitments, Prof Pearn-Rowe has also found the time to pen a weekly medical column in The West Australian newspaper, making him an outstanding face of the AMA in WA.”
Prof Pearn-Rowe was chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practice (RACGP) in Western Australia from 1989 to 1993, Chair of the AMA WA Council of General Practice (CGP) from 1998 to 2001, and Convenor of the Federal AMA CGP since 2004. He was appointed a Fellow of the federal AMA in 2004.
The President’s Award may be made to a person, not necessarily a medical practitioner, who, in the eyes of the AMA President, has made an outstanding contribution toward furthering the objectives of the AMA.
Dr Gannon presented Prof Pearn-Rowe with his Award at the AMA National Conference 2017 Gala Dinner in Melbourne.
AMA PRESIDENT’S AWARD FULL CITATION
PROFESSOR BERNARD PEARN-ROWE
BSc (Hons), MB BS (London), FAMA
Professor Bernard Pearn-Rowe has been a stalwart of general practice advocacy for almost 30 years, having been Chair of the RACGP in WA from 1989-1993, Chair of the AMA WA Council of General Practice from 1998-2001, and Convenor of Federal AMA CGP since 2004, recently announcing his plans to step down from the role in 2017.
Professor Pearn-Rowe graduated in Medicine from the University of London in 1972 and joined the AMA in 1976. He has been active in AMA WA medical politics since that time, including a period as President of the AMA in Western Australia from 2002-2004. He was appointed a Fellow of the AMA in 2004.
He was appointed Foundation Professor of Clinical Studies at the University of Notre Dame in 2004 and was Foundation Professor and Head of Discipline of General Practice in the School of Medicine at the University of Notre Dame from 2006-2010. Since that time he has continued as an Adjunct Professor.
In addition to his academic commitments Professor Pearn-Rowe maintained a solo general practice, understanding intimately the challenges facing general practitioners. This has helped inform his contribution to the development of the AMA’s advocacy for and on behalf of general practice.
During his time as Convenor of CGP, Professor Pearn-Rowe has contributed to many key policies in areas such as the role of general practice in primary care, e-health, medical education and training, GP workforce, red tape reduction, primary health care organisations medical homes and the role of GPs in disaster situations.
Professor Pearn-Rowe has been part of an AMACGP that has emphasised the importance of quality general practice and the need for Governments to support this as part of a high quality and sustainable health care system.
Taking time from his practice and other commitments, Professor Pearn-Rowe found time to contribute a weekly medical column to the West Australian newspaper, proving to be ‘an outstanding public face of the Association in WA’, as acknowledged in his citation for Fellowship of the AMA.
28 May 2017
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