Media Release - Five New Additions to AMA Roll of Fellows - 25 May 2018

QT Canberra, 25-27 May 2018

The AMA has inducted five new members into the AMA Roll of Fellows, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to both the medical profession and the AMA.

The new inductees are: the Chair of the AMA Federal Council, Associate Professor Beverley Rowbotham; AMA Northern Territory President, Associate Professor Robert Parker; immediate past AMA Queensland President, Dr Chris Zappala; former AMA ACT President, Dr Elizabeth Gallagher; and long-time AMA South Australia State Councillor, Dr Nigel Stewart.

AMA President, Dr Michael Gannon, announced their addition to the Roll at the AMA National Conference in Canberra today.

“Each of our new Fellows has excelled in their respective medical specialties, and in their roles as advocates for the profession,” Dr Gannon said.

“They have contributed at both the State and Federal level to improve working conditions for doctors, and to making the Australian health system work more effectively for patients and communities.”

Each new AMA Fellow has an impressive record of achievement, as these edited excerpts from their citations show:

Associate Professor Beverley Rowbotham

Associate Professor Bev Rowbothan has contributed to, and led, important changes in the activities of the medical profession and in the disability sector, and for the AMA. She is a unique leader of the medical profession, combining skills as a non-executive director with broad governance experience with expertise in health care, commerce, government, and the non-profit sector.

She was voted President of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia from 2007-2009, and AMA Federal Councillor for the Pathology Specialty Group in 2010. She has been elected four times to chair the AMA’s Federal Council, a post she has held since 2014.

A/Prof Rowbotham is a Director of the largest specialised haematology diagnostics services in Australia, and is a Director of Australia’s largest medical indemnity insurer. An advocate for good governance, she has established the Bev Rowbotham Doctors on Boards Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) scholarships awarded to medical students at the University of Queensland.

She is a member of several Federal Government peak bodies, including the National Pathology Accreditation Advisory Council, the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) Review Taskforce, and the Medical Services Advisory Committee.

A/Prof Rowbotham and her husband have four sons, one of whom has a disability, and she has spent 15 years serving on Boards of organisations that provide education and disability services to children.

Associate Professor Robert Parker

Following completion of a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Sydney in 1977, Associate Professor Parker spent three years working on the Tiwi Islands before being inspired to study medicine so he could make a difference to the health and wellbeing of Indigenous people.

He graduated from the University of Newcastle in 1988 with a Bachelor of Medicine, and was admitted as a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) in 1999.

A/Prof Parker joined the AMA in 1996 and has been an outstanding contributor to the Association, both locally and nationally. He was elected AMA NT President in 2014, and provides regular, comprehensive communications informing AMA NT members on AMA matters, and presentations on behalf of the medical profession to Territory and Federal Government bodies.

As a result of his advocacy to the NT Alcohol and Policies Review, AMA NT secured a position on the newly-formed NT Liquor Commission. He continues to lobby the Territory Government in support of changes to the legislation governing mandatory reporting of doctors, to help achieve a national approach.

A/Prof Parker has been an active member of the Federal AMA since May 2014, as State Nominee to the Federal Council, and on the AMA Health Financing and Economics Committee, and the AMA Taskforce on Indigenous Health. He has also held many roles with RANZCP.

Dr Chris Zappala

Dr Chris Zappala is a Brisbane-based physician and the immediate past President of AMA Queensland. His relationship with the AMA extends 14 years and he is widely respected as a tenacious, trusted, and caring advocate for his professional colleagues and their patients.

Dr Zappala attained his medical degree with first class honours from the University of Queensland in 1997. He has managed a full-time clinical role, further education, and AMA commitments throughout his medical career.

His involvement with Federal AMA began in 2004 as a member of the AMA Doctors in Training Committee. He also served on the Medical Workforce Committee 2015-2017, AMA Council of Private Specialist Practice 2016-17, and Federal Council 2015-17.

As AMAQ President, Dr Zappala worked tirelessly to promote AMA campaigns and initiatives at both State and Federal level. Throughout his Presidential term, he was a staunch advocate for strong medical leadership at all levels of the health system.

Through his current commitments on the AMA Federal Council, as well as the AMAQ Council, the Finance, Risk and Audit Committee, Governance Committee, Ethics and Medico-Legal Committee, and Policy Committee, Chris continues to improve the viability, functionality, and governance of the AMA.

Dr Elizabeth Gallagher

Born in Canberra, Dr Gallagher completed her medical degree at the University of Newcastle and trained in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at The John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle, at Maitland, Gosford, and Canberra Hospitals, as well as St Mary’s Hospital in Portsmouth, England.

Dr Gallagher has served as a Council member of the Australian Menopause Society and is a member of the International Menopause Society, the Australasian Gynaecological Endoscopy Society, the Urogynaecological Society of Australasia, and the Australian and New Zealand Vulvovaginal Society.

Dr Gallagher has also given generously of her time as a member of the Board of the John James Foundation, and has devoted time each year for eight years to work with Aboriginal communities in remote parts of Australia, and has undertaken voluntary work in the Solomon Islands for the past three years.

Dr Gallagher joined the AMA ACT in 2000, and was appointed to the AMA ACT Advisory Council as Obstetrics and Gynaecology representative in 2010. She was elected AMA ACT President in 2014, a time that coincided with the release of the 2014 Federal Budget and a number of critical, local issues involving the ACT health system.

In addition to representing AMA ACT at National Conference from 2013 to 2017, Dr Gallagher was an AMA Federal Councillor from 2015 to 2017, and was a member of the Medical Workforce Committee over the same period.

At all times, she has shown remarkable leadership, and her calm, measured, and down-to-earth approach has consistently resulted in positive outcomes.

Dr Nigel Stewart

Born and educated in New Zealand, Dr Stewart has lived in Port Augusta, South Australia, for more than 20 years, where he works as a regional paediatrician at the Port Augusta Hospital.

He has been an AMA member for 23 years, and has been a member of the AMA(SA) Council over a 15-year period.

Dr Stewart has a passionate commitment to rural and regional health services and, in particular, working towards an appropriate and supported workforce to care for the health of rural and regional communities.

Dr Stewart has brought his considerable expertise and insight to AMA State and Federal advocacy. In 2006, he was awarded an AMA(SA) award for outstanding contribution to the medical profession, and in 2008 he won the Federal AMA Excellence in Healthcare Award.

Dr Stewart has made substantial contributions to AMA(SA) policy, and AMA policy more broadly. He has been an informed and active contributor to AMA(SA) Council meetings that have informed AMA(SA) advice and engagement with Federal AMA activities.

He has a strong belief in the purpose and value of the AMA, and invests significant time and passion into that belief through the support he provides.

25 May 2018

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AMA ROLL OF FELLOWS FULL CITATIONS

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR BEVERLEY ROWBOTHAM

MBBS (Hons), FRACP, FRCPA, MD

Associate Professor Bev Rowbotham has contributed to and led important changes in both the activities of the medical profession, in the disability sector, but also for the AMA.  She is a unique leader of our profession, combining skill as a non-executive Director with broad governance experience with expertise in healthcare, commerce, government and the non-profit sector.

After graduating with first class honours in Medicine in 1978, she gained the additional qualification of dual Fellowships to the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia in 1986. Associate Professor, Department of Cellular and Molecular Pathology, University of Queensland, School of Medicine 1991- current.

In 1992, she was awarded the higher degree of Doctor of Medicine from the University of Queensland, undertaking post-graduate training at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, USA. She has had a distinguished career as a medical specialist, recognised nationally and internationally for her leadership capabilities, fulfilling a number of volunteer roles in the medical profession.

President, Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia  2007-2009

Significantly, she was voted President of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia from 2007-2009, having served as a director from 2003.  Bev Rowbotham’s presidency was notable for her unification of the profession in the face of challenges posed by disinvestment in pathology by Governments together with corporatisation of workplaces in both private and public sectors. Her key achievements were to lead a change agenda within the College to modernise governance and training and provided strong national and international leadership on behalf of the profession. She was the second of the female Presidents in the 60 year history of the College.  Her major advocacy efforts were

the need for a nationally led and coordinated approach to the introduction of genomic medicine.  This work led to the formation of the Genetics Working Party, which reported to the Federal Government in 2013 and underpinned later initiatives such as The Australian Genomics Healthcare Alliance.   She also secured an agreement from RACP for joint training in Genetics and expansion of the workforce of genetic pathologists by prioritising the allocation of funded training positions to this discipline.

The need to address the workforce shortage in highly qualified scientists.  She led the advocacy effort within the College which culminated in the overwhelming Yes vote to create a Faculty of Science within the College to include scientists in training programs and College affairs.  A version of this had been attempted at least twice before and broken down. 

The need for reform of the health technology assessment framework used by MSAC which was not fit for purpose for the evaluation of diagnostic testing.   These reforms were adopted and she was later appointed to MSAC.

Australian Medical Association

Bev Rowbotham was elected as Federal Councillor for the Pathology Specialty Group in 2010. She has represented her specialty group and argued the case that high quality pathology services underpin modern medical care. She has served on the Ethics and Medico-legal, Health Financing and Economics Committees, and the Council of Private Specialist Practice.

She was a strong supporter of the governance reform within the AMA which has seen the creation of a Board and the role of the Federal Council defined as the policy-making body for the organisation.

As a measure of the high regard in which she is held by her peers, she has been elected four times to chair the AMA’s Federal Council, a post she has held since 2014.  With her extraordinary ability to engage a large team, she has succeeded in developing a robust approach to consensus decision making among a membership which reflects that of the whole Australian medical community.

In 2016 she was awarded a Citation of AMA Queensland for services to the profession and the community of Queensland.

Her international recognition is evidenced by her membership, by invitation, of the American Society of Clinical Pathology International Commission since 2014, and her membership of the World Medical Association Declaration of the Ethical Considerations of Health Databases and Biobanks, Drafting Committee.  She also serves locally as a member of the Uniting Church Human Research and Ethics Committee, a post she has held since 2013.

Director of Haematology, Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology.

Bev Rowbotham is the Director of the largest specialised haematology diagnostics service in Australia. It comprises bone marrow diagnostics, flow cytometry, genomics, cytogenetics and blood banking and staffs a stem cell transplant unit at the Wesley Hospital.  It has provided training places for registrars since the Federal Government introduced support for training in the private sector. The majority of haematology/oncology services in Queensland are provided through the private sector, and her laboratory provides State-wide comprehensive services to support hospital and community-based management of these patients. It is the referral centre for other Australian Sonic Healthcare laboratories for complex testing.

She has been invited to speak on future directions in the practice of haematology diagnostics at the Scientific meetings of the British Society of Haematology (2011) and the International Society of Haematology in 2016.

She has had a career-long commitment to innovation and the use of technology to provide solutions.  She headed the clinical team tasked with the integration of pathology test results into the electronic health record in Australia’s first digital health project. She has advocated throughout her career for the introduction of genomic technologies into Australian health care and now serves on the Board of Genome.One, the first Australian company, and one of a handful in the world, offering patients whole genome testing in the investigation and management of disease. Her commitment to innovation is evident in her current appointments to the Advisory Board of the University of Queensland’s Institute of Molecular Bioscience and to the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia Foundation where she chairs the Research Grants Committee.

Directorships and Governance

She is a Director of the Avant Mutual Group, Australia’s largest medical indemnity insurer, and the Boards of Avant Insurance Ltd and private health insurer, Doctors Health Fund. She is also a director of Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia Quality Assurance Programs Pty Ltd, a national and international provider of laboratory quality assurance programs. An advocate for good governance, she has established the Bev Rowbotham Doctors on Boards AICD scholarships awarded to medical students at the University of Queensland to promote governance skills in the next generation of Australia’s doctors.

Membership of Federal Government peak bodies

Bev Rowbotham has had 15 years of membership of Federal Government peak bodies in health including:

Ministerial appointment, National Pathology Accreditation Advisory Council (NPAAC) 2013 – current, Chair 2016- current.

Ministerial appointment, Member, Medical Benefits Schedule Review Taskforce 2015 – current

Ministerial appointment, Member, Quality Use of Pathology Committee 2010 – current

Ministerial appointment, Member, Medical Services Advisory Committee 2011 – 2014

Member, National Patient Blood Management Program 2010 – current

Clinical Lead National e health Transition Authority 2011 – 2013

Member Federal Government Department of Health Genetics Working Party 2013

Contribution to the Disability sector

Bev and her husband are the parents of four sons, one of whom has a disability, and she has spent 15 years serving on Boards of organisations that provide education and disability services to children.

She is currently Director, and past Chairman (8 years) of The Association for Childhood Language and related Disorders (CHI.L.D) representing over a decade of service,  from 2001 – 2012.  A registered charity, it provides educational services to school students (P1-12) with language disorders via a specialised transdisciplinary curriculum at The Glenleighden School. This is the only such school in Australia, and was modelled on schools in the United Kingdom. It also provides an outreach service to regional Queensland and support for students in mainstream schools.

Key achievements: Bev Rowbotham chaired this Board through a time of transition in the organisation. The Founding Principal retired and the Board appointed two consecutive CEOs to effect a change agenda.   The Board successful advocated for Federal and State Government funding, put the organisation on a financially stable footing, and made extensive investment in the school’s facilities. A contemporary and accredited curriculum, a research program and a public awareness campaign about the disability were introduced. Services were extended to provide school places for the high school years, and an early intervention program and therapy service through a new venture, the Lets Talk centre.  During this period, the school celebrated its 25^th anniversary. At that time it was estimated over 1000 students and their families had received services from CHI.L.D.  CHI.L.D and The Glenleighden School continue to prosper. www.childassoc.org.au.

Bev is also a Director of the AEIOU Foundation for children with Autism 2015 - current.  AEIOU operates across 10 centres (in Queensland, South Australia, with further interstate expansion planned) to provide an early intervention program for 250 children with moderate to severe autism. It has been a highly visible advocate for children with autism in the debate around policy for the National Disability Insurance Scheme. https://aeiou.org.au/

Bev Rowbotham’s Directorship of these two charities forms a coherent and sustained contribution to building services that support children with disabilities to access an education. It is her experience that these services can transform the lives of these children and their families, and are the best investment society can make on behalf of these families.

On the surface, Bev Rowbotham is an unassuming gentle person, a humble servant leader with a dry wit and positive outlook on life.  Her many accomplishments and activities are largely unknown by those she works alongside. Her extraordinary ability to engage and unite a team underpins her skills in governance and bringing about organisational change.  She readily volunteers her time across the medical profession and the disability sector, and is an inspirational leader for a generation of women in medicine.

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR ROBERT PARKER

BA (Hons), BMed, FRANZCP, DRANZCOG, AFCHSM, MHA, FPRCP

Associate Professor Robert Parker graduated from the University of Newcastle in 1988 with a Bachelor of Medicine.  In 1999, A/Prof Parker was admitted as a Fellow to the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP).

Following completion of a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Sydney in 1977, A/Prof Parker spent three years working on the Tiwi Islands as the Aboriginal Arts and Craft facilitator, before being inspired by past AMA member, Dr Pat Rebgetz, to study medicine so he could help in making a difference to the health and wellbeing of Indigenous people in the Northern Territory, and the wider Australian communities.  In 2009, A/Prof went on to complete a Master of Health Administration at the University of NSW.

A/Professor Parker joined the Australian Medical Association in 1996 and has been an outstanding contributor to the Association both locally and nationally.

A/Prof Parker is the current President of the AMA Northern Territory (AMA NT), a position he was elected to in 2014.  Prior to this, he held the role of AMA NT Vice President between 2007 and 2014. 

As AMA NT President, A/Prof Parker provides regular comprehensive communications informing AMA NT members on AMA matters.  He also delivers presentations on behalf of the medical profession to the Productivity Commission, including on the implications of the loss of funding for the Territory, based on the definition of Horizontal Fiscal Equalisation. 

A/Prof Parker also provided a comprehensive submission to the NT Alcohol and Policies Review on behalf of the AMA NT, which resulting in the AMA NT securing a position on the newly formed NT Liquor Commission. A/Prof Parker continues to lobby the Territory Government in support of changes to the legislation governing mandatory reporting of doctors, to bring the Territory into line with the Federally supported WA model, and help to achieve a national based approach.

A/Prof Parker, as the State Nominee for the Northern Territory on the AMA Federal Council, has been an active member of Federal AMA since May 2014.  As well as contributing to the AMA Federal Council, he is a member of the AMA Health Financing and Economics Committee.  A/Prof Parker is also a member of the AMA Taskforce on Indigenous Health since 2007.

A/Prof Parker continues to advocate, both locally and nationally, for the establishment of a national Centre for Disease Control.  He regularly engages with politicians and the State Department of Health, calling for stronger smoking reforms for the Northern Territory, and indigenous populations and communities in Australia. 

A/Prof Parker has held many roles with RANZCP, including as Chair of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee (2000-2006), Chair of the Board of Professional and Community Relations (2007-2009), and Convener of the RANZCP “Close Relations” Congress in Darwin (2011).  He is a previous member of the Committee for Specialist International Medical Graduate Education, and is Chair of the Section of Leadership and Management.  In 2007, A/Prof Parker was awarded the Mark Sheldon Award by the RANZCP for his meritorious work in service provision, or research to, advance knowledge and understanding of Indigenous mental health.

A/Prof Parker is currently the Director of Psychiatry at Top End Health Service; Consultant-Liaison Psychiatrist at Royal Darwin Hospital; Associate Professor, School of Medicine, Flinders University; and Adjunct Associate Professor of Psychiatry, James Cook University and Northern Territory Medical Program.

A/Prof Parker’s areas of interests include medical governance in hospitals; the mental health aspects of disaster response; and Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health, substance abuse, and suicide.  He has authored 38 learned articles and book chapters mainly concerned with these topics.

A/Prof Parker is also a member of the NT Child Deaths Review and Prevention Committee; a former member of the Beyond Blue Doctors Mental Health Program Advisory Committee; the Chair of the Board for the Forster Foundation Therapeutic Community for Substance Abuse Rehabilitation; and a member of the Royal Darwin Hospital Medical Advisory Committee.

A/Prof Parker is a strong advocate for the improved health outcomes for Indigenous people and their communities, and through his work he has made an outstanding contribution to the AMA.

DR CHRISTOPHER ZAPPALA

MD MHM MMBS (HONS) FRACP AMusA GCAE GAICD

Dr Chris Zappala is a Brisbane-based Physician and the Immediate Past President of AMA Queensland (2015-17). His relationship with the AMA extends 14 years and he is widely respected as a tenacious, trusted, and caring advocate for his professional colleagues and their patients.

Chris attained his medical degree with first class honours from the University of Queensland in 1997, Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians in 2007, Masters of Health Management from the University of New South Wales in 2012, and Doctor of Medicine from the University of Melbourne in 2013. He has managed a full-time clinical role, further education, and AMA commitments throughout his medical career.

Chris’s involvement with Federal AMA began in 2004 as a member of the AMA Doctors in Training Committee. He also served on the Medical Workforce Committee 2015-17, AMA Council of Private Specialist Practice 2016-17, and Federal Council 2015-17.

Chris was the first President of AMA Queensland elected to serve a two-year term (2015-17). He also served on the AMA Queensland Board of Directors from 2012-17, was an AMA Queensland Councillor for 12 years, and was elected AMA Queensland Treasurer during 2008-2010 and 2012-14. Concurrently, he served on multiple subcommittees and working groups of both the AMA Queensland Board and Council.

As AMA Queensland President, Chris worked tirelessly to promote AMA’s campaigns and initiatives at both state and federal level. A natural media spokesperson, Chris’s passion for improving outcomes for both doctors and patients is clearly evident.

Throughout his Presidential term, Chris was a staunch advocate for strong medical leadership at all levels of the health system, including the Medical Board, Medical Workforce, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, within the public and private hospital systems, from Boards down to hospital clinical departments. He relentlessly fought the ongoing threat of task substitution every time any nursing, pharmacist, or allied health group attempted to expand their scope of practice to the detriment of patient wellbeing.

No more was his strong and principled leadership highlighted, than throughout AMA Queensland’s advocacy for doctor-led maternity services, in conjunction with the National Association of Specialist Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. The evidence showed poorer patient outcomes under midwifery-led care, which Chris vehemently opposed on behalf of obstetricians, patients, and their babies.

Chris was instrumental in producing AMA Queensland's Health Vision – a five-point plan that identifies and addresses the areas the Queensland Government must target to help improve the health system for doctors, patients, and the broader Queensland community. Chris also played a pivotal role in highlighting the lack of any evidence for revalidation and the extra burden it placed on our colleagues; he ensured the Office of the Health Ombudsman was made aware of their legislative failings, and he blazed the trail for AMA Queensland constitutional changes.

Through his current commitments on AMA Federal Council as well as AMA Queensland’s Council; Finance, Risk and Audit Committee; Governance Committee; Ethics and Medico-Legal Committee; and Policy Committee; Chris continues to improve the viability, functionality, and governance of the Australian Medical Association.

It is in recognition of this exceptional leadership of the medical profession and dedicated service to the AMA that we nominate Dr Chris Zappala as a worthy nominee for admission to the AMA Roll of Fellows.

DR ELIZABETH ANNE GALLAGHER

BMS (Hons), MB, FRANZCOG

The Board of AMA (ACT) Limited nominates Dr Elizabeth Anne Gallagher for admission to the AMA Roll of Fellows.  AMA (ACT) Limited considers that Dr Gallagher is deserving of the highest honour the AMA can bestow upon a member having fulfilled the criteria of “providing conspicuous, excellent service to the Association”.

Born in Canberra, Dr Gallagher attended St Clare's College. She completed her medical degree at the University of Newcastle and trained in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at The John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle, Maitland, Gosford and Canberra hospitals, as well as St Mary's Hospital in Portsmouth, England. 

Although her studies and training had kept her away from Canberra for an extended period, when the opportunity arose some nineteen years ago, she returned with her husband and three children.

On her return Dr Gallagher worked as a registrar for two years, then established a private obstetrics and gynaecology practice and is a VMO at John James Hospital, Barton Private Hospital, and The Canberra Hospital.

Dr Gallagher has served as a Council member of the Australian Menopause Society and is a member of the International Menopause Society, Australasian Gynaecological Endoscopy Society, the Urogynaecological Society of Australasia and the Australian and New Zealand Vulvovaginal Society.

Dr Gallagher has participated in the activities of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and has been a RANZCOG registrar training supervisor at Canberra Hospital for more than 10 years.  

Dr Gallagher has also given generously of her time as a member of the board of the John James Foundation, an independent, broad-based healthcare charity providing assistance to the people of Canberra and beyond. With the assistance of the Foundation, Dr Gallagher has devoted time each year for eight years to work with Aboriginal communities in remote parts of Australia and has undertaken voluntary work in the Solomon Island for the past three years.

Dr Gallagher is the current Vice-President of the ACT Medical Women’s Society, and a past President, having served on the committee for 12 years.

However, it is for her outstanding service and contribution to the AMA (ACT) Ltd and the AMA that we nominate Dr Gallagher for Fellowship.

Dr Gallagher joined the AMA in 2000 and has served her colleagues through her leadership and involvement with the AMA (ACT) Limited and AMA.

Before taking a formal role with AMA (ACT), Dr Gallagher was involved with the AMA (ACT) in issues arising from allegations of bullying and harassment at The Canberra Hospital. Dr Gallagher’s leadership and constructive approach to resolving these issues greatly impressed her colleagues and led to her formal involvement as an elected officer of the AMA (ACT).

In 2010, Dr Gallagher was appointed to the AMA (ACT) Advisory Council as the representative for Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

In 2012, Dr Gallagher was elected to the AMA (ACT) Ltd Board and, subsequently, in the same year was appointed as President Elect. 

Dr Gallagher was elected President of the AMA (ACT) Limited in 2014 for a two-year term.  During her term she was appointed to Federal Council as the representative for AMA (ACT) Limited.  Dr Gallagher has contributed to Federal Council and served on the Medical Workforce Committee while, at the same time, providing leadership to the Board of AMA (ACT) Limited.

Her period as President of AMA (ACT) coincided with the release of the 2014 Federal Budget and a number of critical, local issues involving the ACT Health system. In particular, Dr Gallagher demonstrated sound leadership through a period that saw further serious allegations of bullying at the Canberra Hospital, the negotiation and then arbitration of a new ACT VMO agreement and the finalisation of the long-delayed ACT Salaried Doctors enterprise agreement.

At all times Dr Gallagher has shown remarkable leadership in guiding the AMA (ACT) through many issues and her calm, measured and down-to-earth approach has consistently resulted in positive outcomes. 

Following the end of her term of office as President, Dr Gallagher was re-elected to the Board of AMA (ACT), a position she continues to hold.  In addition, Dr Gallagher has returned as a member of the AMA (ACT) Advisory Council representing Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Dr Gallagher’s direct involvement with AMA, while somewhat briefer than that with AMA (ACT) has nevertheless been significant. In addition to representing AMA (ACT) at National Conference from 2013-2017, Dr Gallagher was appointed to Federal Council in 2015 and held the position until 2017.  Dr Gallagher was a member of the Medical Workforce Committee from 2015 to 2017.

AMA (ACT) Limited is pleased to nominate Dr Gallagher for Fellowship of the AMA.

DR NIGEL LAWRENCE STEWART

MB, ChB, DCG, FRACP, Graduate Certificate in Population Health

The AMA(SA) wishes to nominate Dr Nigel Stewart to the federal AMA Roll of Fellows, on the basis of his outstanding service to the Association over many years. Nigel has been an AMA member for 23 years.

Dr Stewart is a paediatrician based at Port Augusta, and works at the Port Augusta Hospital. He has been a member of the AMA(SA) State Council over a period of 15 years (with a two-year break), in the following roles:

• 2003-2004       Ordinary Member
• 2004-2006       Regional Representative: Northern
• 2007-2008       break
• 2009-Current   Regional Representative: Northern

Dr Stewart was granted dispensation from the Chief Executive to serve on Council for more than three terms.

Dr Stewart has a passionate commitment to rural and regional health services and in particular working towards an appropriate and supported workforce to service the health or rural and regional communities.

Born and educated in Auckland, New Zealand, Dr Stewart has lived in Port Augusta, South Australia for over 20 years and has worked as a regional paediatrician with the Port Augusta Hospital since 1993, and since 1995 has been Head of the Northern Regional Paediatric Unit at Port Augusta Hospital.

Dr Stewart aims to provide a high-quality child health service as close to home as possible for the children of rural and remote locations across northern South Australia. He has a strong interest in many aspects of children’s health, including rural children’s health, indigenous health,

behavioural paediatrics and developmental paediatrics. As a rural practitioner he has been a strong advocate for rural health consumers and their access to health services.

Teaching roles have included Honorary Clinical Lecturer at the University of Adelaide since 1995, and in 2003 as a Senior Clinical Lecturer for rural teaching in the Department of Paediatrics for the University of Adelaide. He is involved in many significant committees relating to children’s health and safety and rural health, including chairing the National Rural Health Alliance.

Dr Stewart has brought his considerable expertise and insight to AMA state and federal advocacy. In 2006 he was awarded an AMA(SA) award for outstanding contribution to the medical profession.

2008 he was awarded with the AMA Excellence in Health Care Award. The award recognises the significant contribution he made to improving health care in Australia.

Dr Stewart has made substantial contributions to AMA(SA) policy and AMA policy more broadly. Locally he has contributed to many, many AMA(SA) submissions, particularly highlighting rural perspectives and issues, but also more broadly, also contributing to publications, and federal AMA policy and advocacy.

He has been an informed and active contributor to AMA(SA) Council meetings that have informed AMA(SA) advice and engagement with federal AMA activities also. He has a strong belief in the purpose and value of the AMA and invests significant time and passion into that belief through the support he provides.

Dr Nigel Stewart was a member of the AMA Rural Council from June 2013 to June 2016.

Nigel’s years of service to the AMA nationally and at a state level have taken up countless hours of his time, as well as his energy and ongoing commitment.

We believe his hard work and endeavours on behalf of the Association and its members reflect outstanding and conspicuous service, deserving of recognition on the Roll of Fellows.