SEVEN DOCTORS RECOGNISED FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO MEDICAL PROFESSION AND THE AMA

Two current State AMA Presidents, two past State Presidents, the Medical Journal of Australia editor, and a married couple have been inducted into the AMA Roll of Fellows today, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to medicine, the medical profession, and the AMA.

Four of the seven are from Tasmania – a major achievement for the island State.

The new inductees are:

• AMA Tasmania Past President and anaesthetist, Dr Stuart Day;
• AMA ACT President and GP, Dr Antonio Di Dio;
• AMA NSW Immediate Past President and GP, Dr Kean-Seng Lim;
• AMA Tasmania President and occupational physician, Dr Helen McArdle;
• Medical Journal of Australia editor and neurogastroenterologist, Laureate Professor Nicholas Talley;
• Tasmanian representative on the AMA Federal Council of General Practice and GP, Dr Anne Wilson; and
• AMA Tasmania State Council representative and GP, Dr Don Rose.

Outgoing AMA President, Dr Tony Bartone, announced their addition to the Roll at the AMA National Conference, held via videoconference today.

“These seven outstanding doctors demonstrate the extraordinary range and professionalism of the AMA membership,” Dr Bartone said.

“Dr Anne Wilson and Dr Don Rose have devoted close to 70 years of service to their community in northern Tasmania and to the AMA, while raising a family of four.

“Professor Nick Talley has combined his work as a world-leading neurogastroenterologist with his role as editor of one of the world’s most influential medical journals, the Medical Journal of Australia.

“Dr Helen McArdle, who last month became the first female President of AMA Tasmania, is a senior medical administrator and an occupational physician, who is committed to diversity and equity within the profession, and to doctors’ wellbeing.

“Dr Stuart Day has shown tremendous dedication to the AMA for the past quarter-century, representing hospital doctors and serving in a variety of roles, including as AMA Tasmania President.

“Dr Antonio Di Dio has been the driving force behind the doctors’ health service in Canberra, and provided countless hours of his own time to review medical transfer requests for asylum seekers in offshore detention.

“Dr Kean-Seng Lim is committed to providing integrated care, where doctors, nurses, and other health professionals work together for their patients, and helped develop a schools-based obesity prevention program now in use in 24 schools.

“All of these doctors have excelled not just in their medical specialties, but in their roles as advocates for the profession.

“They have made real contributions at the State and Federal level to improve working conditions for doctors, to improve safety for patients, to train the next generations of medical practitioners, and to make the Australian health system work more effectively for patients and communities.

“I commend them for their service.”

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

Dr Stuart Day

Dr Stuart Day has shown tremendous dedication in his commitment to the AMA and the profession throughout his 24-year membership, holding roles including AMA Tasmania President (2016-2018) and Federal Councillor, as well as more than 10 years as head of Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation (ASMOF) Tasmania.

He continues to be an active member of the AMA, and is generous in the giving of his time and advice to all who seek it.

Dr Antonio Di Dio

Dr Antonio Di Dio, the AMA ACT President, is an AMA Federal Councillor, a member of the Ethics and Medico-Legal Committee, and has served his colleagues through leadership of, and involvement with the AMA, AMA ACT and the NSW and ACT Doctors’ Health Advisory Service (DHAS), providing much-needed support to troubled doctors and their families.

In 2019, Dr Di Dio was appointed as the AMA representative to the Independent Health Assessment Panel (IHAP) and subsequently served as its Chair. His IHAP duties have required Dr Di Dio to undertake serious statutory obligations involving the exercise of his skills as a medical practitioner that have made an extraordinary call on his personal time, in circumstances that were highly politically charged.

It is a tribute to Dr Di Dio’s skill and compassion that he was able to so effectively discharge his duties; a matter that reflects great credit on both him and the AMA.

Dr Kean-Seng Lim

Dr Kean-Seng Lim, the immediate Past President of AMA NSW and Deputy Chair of the AMA Council of General Practice, is a specialist GP with particular interests in sports medicine, nutrition and lifestyle, and integrated care.

His practice in Sydney’s western suburbs is built on a multidisciplinary approach, integrating doctors, nurses, allied health practitioners, and a non- dispensing pharmacist, using the Patient Centred Medical Home principles.

Dr Lim used his AMA NSW presidency to focus on measures to reduce overweight and obesity, and helped develop the schools-based obesity prevention and lifestyle education program – SALSA.

Dr Lim has passionately campaigned for increased primary care funding, arguing that early intervention and better management of long-term health problems is a more sustainable healthcare strategy.

Dr Helen McArdle

Dr Helen McArdle, the first female President of AMA Tasmania, is a long-standing AMA member, a highly respected AMA Federal Councillor, a senior medical administrator, and Occupational Physician and medical leader.

Dr McArdle has contributed to the work of the AMA at all levels of the organisation since 1990. A Federal Councillor since 2012, she has made landmark contributions as a member of the AMA Ethics and Medico Legal Committee, including the development of the AMA Position Statement on Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide 2016, and as inaugural Chair of the AMA Equity, Inclusion and Diversity Committee.

Dr McArdle contributes at the highest level to her profession as a clinician, educator, leader, and policy maker.

She is a role model for Australia’s doctors and most deserving of the award of Fellow, Australian Medical Association (FAMA)

Professor Nicholas Talley AC

Professor Talley is a world-leading neurogastroenterologist, educator and researcher, and is widely recognised as one of the most influential clinician-researchers in the world, with more than 1,000 papers published in peer-reviewed literature.

Prof Talley has been Editor-in-Chief of the Medical Journal of Australia since 2015, and was previously co-editor-in-chief of Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics; and editor of American Journal of Gastroenterology. He is also the author of the authoritative textbooks Clinical Examination and Examination Medicine.

Professor Talley was one of the first 15 Fellows of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (FAHMS). In 2018, he was honoured with the Companion of the Order of Australia.

Professor Talley has contributed to AMA NSW and to Federal AMA by his contribution to excellence in medical education and the standards he has established for students, doctors in training, and doctors. As MJA editor, he has contributed to a highly valued member resource.

Dr Anne Wilson and Dr Don Rose

Dr Anne Wilson and Dr Don Rose have given outstanding service to the AMA for more than three decades, supporting each other in both their AMA endeavours and their marriage, raising four children while working as GPs in northern Tasmania.

They are active members of the AMA Tasmania Northern Division, State Councillor, and Tasmanian delegates to the AMA National Conference for many years.

Dr Wilson has been the Tasmanian representative on the AMA Council of General Practice for the past six years.

Dr Rose has represented the AMA on various bodies, including as the current AMA representative member of Primary Health Tasmania.

Both Dr Wilson and Dr Rose have been tireless in their efforts to ensure GPs remain at the centre of patient care in policy development and health service delivery in the public and private domains.

While each nomination was considered independently and on its merits, Dr Rose and Dr Wilson are a true partnership and one cannot be mentioned without speaking of the other.

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1 August 2020

CONTACT:                     Maria Hawthorne       02 6270 5478 / 0427 209 753

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AMA ROLL OF FELLOWS

FULL CITATIONS

Dr Stuart Kenneth Day

It is with great pleasure that the Board of AMA Tasmania recommends Dr Stuart Day for consideration as an AMA Fellow. Dr Day has shown tremendous dedication in his commitment to the AMA, while holding various vital roles throughout his 24 year membership including a term as President of AMA Tasmania 2016 - 2018, a seat on Federal Council as well as more than ten years serving as head of ASMOF Tasmania.

He continues to be an active member of the AMA and is generous in the giving of his time and advice to all who seek it.

Extremely intelligent, quietly spoken and confident, Dr Day is well-liked and respected by his peers. He has shown he can work collaboratively on a team with other doctors and is popular among the nurses for his energy and positive attitude.

Patients would no doubt find his easy-going bedside manner to be appealing, as well as his ability to quickly grasp and carefully explain complex concepts.

Dr Antonio Paolo Di Dio

Dr Di Dio is a prominent general practitioner who has served his colleagues through leadership of, and involvement with the AMA, AMA (ACT) and the NSW and ACT Doctors Health Advisory Service (DHAS). Dr Di Dio continues to serve the AMA in a variety of elected positions and voluntary roles, diligently and selflessly working on behalf of AMA members.

After growing up in rural Italy and then rural New South Wales, Dr Di Dio gained admission to the University of Sydney where he completed his undergraduate medical studies in 1990. He was then awarded his fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners in 1996 and, following a further 10 years practising in Sydney, Dr Di Dio moved to Canberra with his young family.

In Canberra, Dr Di Dio combined his passion for family and community, medical culture and involvement in the holistic care of doctors with his expanding general practice. For several years he has been the driving force behind the ACT DHAS, providing much-needed support to troubled doctors and their families.

Dr Di Dio has been a member of Federal Council since 2018 and serves on the Ethics and Medico-legal Committee together with the AMA Council of General Practice.

In 2019 Dr Dio was appointed as the AMA representative to the Independent Health Assessment Panel (IHAP) and subsequently served as its Chair. At all times, Dr Di Dio has undertaken his work with IHAP in the best traditions of the medical profession and the AMA, applying his expertise without fear or favour while discharging his duties with care and compassion.

Dr Di Dio’s IHAP duties have required him to undertake serious statutory obligations involving the exercise of his skills as a medical practitioner that have made an extraordinary call on his personal time. All of this occurred in circumstances that were highly politically charged.

It is a tribute to Dr Di Dio’s skill and compassion that he was able to so effectively discharge his duties; a matter that reflects great credit on both him and the AMA.

Dr Di Dio was elected President of the AMA (ACT) in 2018 for a two- year term. At all times he has provided outstanding leadership for AMA (ACT), whether as a public advocate, office bearer or committee member.

His congenial manner and tireless, thoughtful and selfless contribution to the work of the AMA and AMA (ACT) are greatly admired.

Dr Kean-Seng Lim

Dr Lim is a specialist general practitioner. Dr Lim graduated from Sydney University and obtained qualifications as a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. He has undertaken further training in sports medicine.

He is the GP Principal in a group practice in Mt Druitt and a GP Supervisor. His practice is built on a multidisciplinary approach, integrating doctors, nurses, allied health practitioners and a non- dispensing pharmacist, using the Patient Centred Medical Home principles. Dr Lim is highly regarded by his colleagues for his commitment to integrated care, as well as his knowledge, leadership and devotion to patients and staff. In 2015, he was awarded the RACGP’s General Practitioner of the Year. He has previously served on the RACGP Faculty Board and, until recently, the Western Sydney PHN Board, where he has been a member of the Clinical Governance and Audit and Risk Committees. He served on the Patient Selection Advisory Group for Health Care Homes, and as an advisor in the development of the Health Care Homes Training modules and trainer at the PHN Practice Facilitator workshops. He is also a committee member of the Mt Druitt Medical Practitioners Association.

Dr Lim is the immediate Past President of AMA (NSW); a member of the Board of Directors and Council, and Deputy Chair of the AMA Council of General Practice.

Dr Lim has a particular interest in nutrition and lifestyle and focused on measures to reduce overweight and obesity during his presidency. He has also served as the Clinical Lead with the National E-Health Transition Authority and is one of the developers of the schools-based obesity prevention and lifestyle education program – SALSA. He continues to be heavily involved in the program. Starting at Rooty Hill High School in 2004, the SALSA program is now in 24 schools in Sydney and is in the process of being assessed by the NSW Health Department for use throughout the State.

Dr Lim has passionately campaigned for increased primary care funding, arguing that early intervention and better management of long-term health problems is a more sustainable healthcare strategy.

Dr Helen McArdle

Dr Helen McArdle is a long-standing member of Australian Medical Association, a highly respected member of AMA Federal Council, a senior medical administrator and Occupational Physician and medical leader.

Dr MCArdle holds Fellowships from both the Australasian College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators, and has played an active role in the conduct of the affairs of these Colleges.

Since becoming a member in 1990, she has contributed to the work of the AMA at all levels of the organisation. In 2012, she was elected to AMA Federal Council where she has made landmark contributions, as a member of the AMA Ethics and Medico Legal Committee, whose work included the development of an AMA Position Statement on Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide 2016, and as inaugural Chair of the AMA Equity, Inclusion and Diversity Committee in 2018.

Her contributions to discussions and policy development at AMA Federal Council are considered, clear, and listened to. She works with calm dedication as a highly-valued presence on the Councils, Committees and Boards of which she is a member, always being the one to help steer deliberations towards consensus and practical, implementable and principled ways forward. Her opinion is sought as a voice of reason and the level of respect for her is such that her contribution will often be the one that breaks a deadlock.

Helen has been a Director of AMA Tasmania since 2012 and of AMA Ltd (Federal) since 2012, where she also serves as a member and now Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee. Her evident skills in managing risk build on her career in risk management in her other professional roles, and her clear understanding of process and governance have greatly assisted the Chairs and the other members of the newly formed Board of AMA Ltd.

Dr McArdle’s other board roles include Chair of the Board of the Tasmanian Postgraduate Medical Education Council for the last 10 years, and long-standing Director and now Deputy Chair of Southern Cross Care, a major provider of aged care residential and support services in Tasmania. She is a Past President of the Tasmanian Medical Women’s Society and Vice Commodore of the Sandy Bay Sailing Club.

Dr McArdle contributes at the highest level to her profession as a clinician, educator, leader and policy maker.

Dr McArdle has provided exemplary and faithful service to the AMA and has brought credit to the Association through her strong leadership in the practice of medicine. She is a role model for Australia’s doctors and most deserving of the award of Fellow, Australian Medical Association (FAMA)

Prof Nicholas Talley AC

Professor Nick Talley is a world-leading neurogastroenterologist, educator and researcher, and is a leader in the medical and university sectors. He is widely recognised as one of the most influential clinician-researchers in the world and has published more than 1000 papers in peer-reviewed literature. In addition to maintaining his position as the Editor-in-Chief of the Medical Journal of Australia since 2015, he is the Section Editor for “Up To Date”, and he was formally co-editor-in-chief of a major international journal, Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics; and the editor for six years of the American Journal of Gastroenterology. He is also the author of the authoritative textbooks Clinical Examination and Examination Medicine.

Prof Talley has previously held an appointment as Pro Vice-Chancellor (and Dean) of the Faculty of Health and Medicine at the University of Newcastle from 2010-2015, and was seconded to be the Deputy Vice-Chancellor-Research (Acting) at the University of Newcastle from June 2013 to March 2014 and was Pro-Vice Chancellor, Global Research from 2016 – Dec 2019.

Prof Talley was inaugurated as one of the first 15 Fellows of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (FAHMS) in June 2014 and was elected to the Executive of the Academy. He was honoured in 2018 with the Companion of the Order of Australia for "For eminent service to medical research, and to education in the field of gastroenterology and epidemiology, as an academic, author and administrator at the national and international level, and to health and scientific associations".

Prof Talley has contributed to AMA NSW and to Federal AMA by his contribution to excellence in medical education and the standards he has established for our students, doctors in training and doctors. As Editor of the MJA, he has contributed to a highly valued member resource. Prof. Talley is the kind of doctor the AMA should be proud to have as a Fellow.

Dr Anne Heather Wilson

It is with great pleasure that the Board of AMA Tasmania recommends Dr Anne Wilson for consideration as an AMA Fellow. She has given outstanding service to the Association during her 34 years of membership.

Dr Wilson is an active member of the Northern Division, a State Councillor since 2011, a Tasmanian delegate to the AMA National Conference for many years and the Tasmanian representative for the AMA Council of General Practice for the past six years. She is a contributor at AMA meetings and always willing to take on responsibility and follow through on actions outside of meetings.

Dr Wilson is tireless in her efforts to ensure GPs remain at the centre of patient care in policy development and health service delivery in the public and private domains. She willingly gives of her time to meet with government officials, stakeholders and colleagues in order to ensure GPs have a voice at the table on health matters. She supports the efforts of staff in the State office and is always willing to go the extra mile to ensure positive outcomes are achieved in each arena she is involved in. She is forthright in her advocacy, passionate about her work and cares greatly for the welfare of her patients. Her dedication and commitment to the AMA and her vocation as a GP is second to none.

While it is important to consider each nomination independently and, on its merits, Dr Don Rose and Dr Anne Wilson have supported each other’s endeavours to participate in AMA activities and advocate for general practice throughout their married life and raising of four children. They are a true partnership and one cannot be mentioned without speaking of the other. It would be fitting for both to be awarded the Fellowship together.

Dr Donald Frederick Anthony Rose

It is with great pleasure that the Board of AMA Tasmania recommends Dr Don Rose for consideration as an AMA Fellow.

After 32 years as a member of the AMA Tasmania branch, Dr Rose continues to work tirelessly to represent the interests of doctors and their patients within the AMA and as a representative of the AMA on other bodies. He has been a State Council Representative for over 20 years, been an active member of the Northern Division, holding the office of Secretary since 2004, been a Tasmania delegate to the AMA National Conference for over a decade and represented the AMA outside the organisation on various bodies, including as the current AMA representative member of Primary Health Tasmania. He is a loyal and hard-working member of the AMA.

Dr Rose’s contribution to the work of the AMA is significant. He will go out of his way to drive campaigns that support general practitioners and advocate for rural and regional GP practices. He is always well considered in his views and is highly regarded by his peers. Dr Rose has strong networks within and outside the medical fraternity, including politically, which has helped to ensure the agenda of the AMA is clearly understood at the local and national level through elected representatives.

While it is important to consider each nomination independently and, on its merits, Dr Rose and Dr Wilson have supported each other’s endeavours to participate in AMA activities and advocate for general practice throughout their married life and raising of four children. They are a true partnership and one cannot be mentioned without speaking of the other. It would be fitting for both to be awarded the Fellowship together.