October 2008
Symbion carve-up continues The dismantling of Symbion’s corporate empire continues. After Dr Ed Bateman’s Primary Health Care...
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October 2008
Western Cardiology's Susan Stark has been re-elected as WA President of the Australian Association of Practice Managers.
Kym Gibson and Shane Combe have been appointed as Chair and Deputy Chair respectively of the WA Clinical Senate following Dr Scott Blackwell's departure.
Cobie Rudd, former CEO of the failed GPDWA...
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September 2008
Orbiting research Ralph Sarich’s $20m donation for WA medical research may be sexy news but will it...
September 2008
Princess Margaret Hospital's emergency services chief Prof Gary Geelhoed has been elected AMA (WA)'s new president, replacing Prof Geoff Dobb. Dr David Mountain, AMA (WA)'s spokesman on emergency medicine, and Dr Steve Wilson, chair of the AMA (WA) Council of General Practice, were elected as vice presidents.
Dr Kevin Yuen takes over from Dr Sarah Pickstock as Medical Director at Donate West. Kevin is also consulting to RPH in palliative care.
Former CEO of the Australian Physiotherapy Association David Malone has been appointed as the executive director of Healthway...
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August 2008
NSW GP Dr Christopher Mitchell will become the next president of the RACGP following his win over current president and WA GP Dr Vasantha Preetham. Dr Mitchell won the election 1730 votes to 1296.
The WA Department of Health has appointed Dr William Patterson as the new Medical Officer with the Office of Aboriginal Health. William has been seconded from AMA (WA), where he served as Director of Public Health.
Dr Michael Quinlan has been formally named as the University of Notre Dame's Chancellor...
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July 2008
RACGP election hots up
The upcoming RACGP federal presidential election race is hotting up. NSW rural GP (and current Vice President) Dr Christopher Mitchell has already put his hand up for the top job, and now incumbent President, WA's Dr Vasantha Preetham, has thrown her hat in the ring. Vasantha is only the second President to seek a second consecutive term, although her job is cut out for her as Dr Mitchell has some factional heavy hitters behind him. Prof Peter Mudge (Chair, Tasmanian RACGP faculty), Dr Di O'Halloran (Chair, NSW & ACT faculty), Dr Jane Smith (Chair, Queensland faculty), and past RACGP president Dr Peter Joseph all support Dr Mitchell's candidacy, as does local GP Dr Olga Ward. While the RACGP has expanded its membership and been running smoothly under Vasantha's presidency, time will tell whether stability is enough to sway members. Postal ballots are open until July 16. Further info (including candidate statements) can be found at www.racgp.org.au
Contaminated heparin recall
Batches of Sanofi-Aventis' heparin products Lovenox and Clexane (enoxaparin) have been found to contain small amounts of the contaminant over-sulphated chondroitin sulphate. In January, the USA reported 44 deaths and additional affected cases associated with exposure to unfractionated intravenous heparin produced by Baxter. More recently, the media has linked the drugs to 81 US deaths. While the risk of adverse events associated with the contaminated drugs is unknown, less than 5% of Australian Clexane is believed to be contaminated. Not surprisingly, all batches (made in late April) containing the contaminant have been recalled.
WA's air ambulance
A new jet ambulance service was launched in June by Health Minister Jim McGinty...
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July 2008
Leah Williams has left the position of Marketing, Membership, and Events Officer of the RACGP WA Faculty to travel abroad. She is replaced by Abby Roberts, who has returned from working in the UK and has a background in marketing, PR, and management.
Ear Science Institute Australia has promoted Dr Brett Robertson from Manager Clinical Services to General Manager.
Nobel Laureate Prof Barry Marshall, currently working at UWA, has been elected...
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