New RACGP Specific Interests Chairs welcomed

There will be four new GPs stepping into the role of Specific Interest Chairs this month following recent faculty elections.
 
They are Dr Wei-May Su, who will Chair RACGP Specific Interests Abuse and Violence in Families, Dr Terri-Lynne South (Specific Interests Obesity Management), Dr Anthony Marinucci (Specific Interests Aged Care), and Dr Thomas Turnbull (Specific Interests Custodial Health).
 
Dr Su is a long-term member of the Abuse and Violence in Families group, as well as being an academic GP who works clinically in metropolitan NSW. She is also a contributor to the RACGP White Book.
 
Dr South has more than 25 years’ experience as a healthcare practitioner, with 15 years in general practice following a role as an accredited practising dietitian.
 
Dr Marinucci has been dedicated to the care of the elderly since an experience with his own grandmother at her end of life, with his practice focusing on geriatric outreach consultation.
 
Dr Turnbull, a previous Chair of RACGP Specific Interests Custodial Health, is currently the medical director of the South Australia Prison Health Service. 
 
Of the outgoing chairs, the longest serving is Dr Elizabeth Hindmarsh, who helped found the Abuse and Violence in Families Specific Interest Group in 2011 and has been its Chair ever since.
 
‘She has accomplished a lot,’ RACGP Specific Interests Chair Dr Lara Roeske told newsGP.
 
‘She was instrumental in the creation and founding of the White Book and has been tireless in her commitment to the care of survivors of family violence, and as an advocate for access and equity of care for all our vulnerable communities.’
 
Associate Professor Penny Abbott has been the Chair of Specific Interests Custodial Health for around five years across two separate terms and plans to remain involved in the group. She helped drive the college’s involvement in the Raise the Age campaign, and has advocated strongly to improve the health of justice-involved people.
 
As Chair of RACGP Specific Interests Aged Care for much of the pandemic, Dr Khayyam Altaf advocated strongly for GPs and patients in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) during the vaccine rollout. During his time in the role, a dementia subgroup was also set up to help provide education for GPs treating the disease.
 
Outgoing Chair of RACGP Specific Interests Obesity Management Dr Ella Barclay, who started in the role in February this year, led the college’s response to the Federal Government’s National Obesity Strategy 2022–2032, and is now pursuing a Masters in Public Health in obesity and nutrition.
 
She hopes she may return to the role when the demands of work, education and a young family have eased.
 
Dr Roeske thanked the outgoing GPs for the work they have carried out. She said she is delighted to welcome the incoming chairs and looks forward to working with them.
 
They will officially start in their new roles following an RACGP Specific Interests Groups member meeting on 11 October.
 
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