A number of Western Australian GPs were recognised for their outstanding contributions to their communities at the RACGP’s annual conference.
Among the GPs, GP supervisors, GP registrars and practices celebrated at the event was Adjunct Associate Professor Frank Jones who was awarded the most prestigious honour the RACGP affords, the Rose Hunt award.
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said Prof Jones had made “immense contributions to general practice” over his nearly 45-year career.
Originally from Wales in the United Kingdom, Professor Jones moved to Australia in 1981 and became a College member in 1985.
Prof Jones has worked with the Royal Flying Doctor Service, as a procedural GP obstetrician, and spent the past 40 years working at Murray Medical Centre in Mandurah.
Within the RACGP, he has been an active member of several boards and committees and has been a stalwart of the RACGP WA Council since 2004.
Prof Jones has held the positions of WA Faculty Deputy Chair, Chair and Provost, served as an RACGP Board member from 2010-2016 in his capacity as WA Chair, before moving to the role of Vice President and eventually becoming President in 2014.
A dedicated examiner, supervisor and senior clinical lecturer at the UWA Medical School, he has made substantial contributions to education and training of medical students, registrars and peers over a long and dedicated career.
Other West Australians recognised at the awards were Dr Rajeshwary ‘Raji’ Krishnan who was named General Practitioner of the Year, Dr Joanne Wong who was awarded the Prof Charlotte Hespe research award.
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The Prof Charlotte Hespe research award is presented to a registrar (academic or non-academic) who has conducted research or a project during training that is considered most outstanding.
Dr Joanne Wong delivered a project called ‘Developing a co-designed miscarriage communication guide for general practitioners in training’, which was designed to address the absence of standardised guidance for GPs in training on how to offer emotional support to patients during and after a miscarriage.
The project is likely to be widely implemented in general practice vocational training.
It’s been a big year for Dr Raji Krishnan, who also won the AMA’s President’s award at the AMA25 conference.
RACGP vice president and WA chair Dr Ramya Raman said: “Dr Krishnan is a true generalist, providing comprehensive primary health care and an unwavering service to Australia’s vulnerable communities and First Nations Peoples.”
In her nomination, Dr Krishnan was described as selfless in the service and care she provides in palliative care and through Street Doctor, a mobile clinic for culturally and linguistically diverse patients.
Her contribution to research on rheumatic heart disease and hepatitis B and C was also recognised.
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Medical student Keisha Calyun took out the Rising Strong Medical Student Award.
RACGP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Chair Dr Karen Nicholls described Ms Calyun as “a worthy recipient”.
The award celebrates an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander medical student who is showing a strong interest in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and a career in general practice.
“Ms Calyun is a driven, passionate student and her commitment to improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health began even before she commenced her medical studies,” Dr Nicholls said.
“While working at the Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia, she developed a scholarship to fund other Aboriginal medical students to attend the Pacific Region Indigenous Doctors Congress.
“She has identified general practice as a career that will offer her the opportunity to make a lasting impact in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health across a range of settings, which is great news.
“It’s all about building trusted relationships, creating culturally safe spaces, and engaging in advocacy to create positive change. If we look ahead and move forward in the right direction, we can work together and achieve lasting reforms that enhance Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health outcomes, and that’s what really matters.”
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