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RACGP 2022 national award winners revealed


newsGP writers


29/11/2022 5:59:13 PM

Nine GPs – and one general practice – have been recognised for their contributions to the community, the profession, and their peers.

RACGP Awards logo
RACGP National Awards are handed out every year to recognise outstanding contributors to general practice.

The RACGP’s annual awards recognise the value of GPs in our community and celebrate their achievements.
 
This year’s recipients received their accolades on Sunday 27 November at GP22 in Melbourne.
 
Rose-Hunt Award – Associate Professor Ayman Shenouda, Wagga Wagga, NSW
The Rose-Hunt Award is presented to a GP who has demonstrated outstanding service in promoting the objectives of the RACGP, either through individual patient care, education, research, or any other means. 
 
This year’s recipient, Associate Professor Shenouda, has provided outstanding service to the college and promoted its objectives through individual patient care, commitment to the RACGP, and medical education.
 
Born and raised in Cairo, Egypt, Associate Professor Shenouda migrated to Australia in 1992 with a medical degree from Cairo University, allowing him to experience first-hand the challenges faced by international medical graduates – particularly in rural parts of the country.
 
He found his life vocation in Australian general practice after moving to Wagga Wagga, where he and his wife established the award-winning Glenrock Country Practice – a purpose-built premise for GPs and a wide range of allied health services. 
 
In addition to clinical practice, Associate Professor Shenouda has also been heavily involved in medical education and held several leadership roles within the college itself, most notably two terms as Vice President, as well as Acting President in 2020 following the death of Dr Harry Nespolon
 
Life Fellowship – Emeritus Professor Siaw-Teng Liaw, Balwyn North, Vic
Life Fellowship is awarded to an existing RACGP Fellow in recognition of outstanding and meritorious service to the college.
 
Professor Liaw was nominated for outstanding service to ethics and research at the RACGP, and by extension to the profession. Over the past 12 years, he has set high ethical research standards, providing tangible benefits for general practice and the broad community it serves.
 
As leader of the World Health Organization’s Collaborating Centre on eHealth, Professor Liaw’s generous knowledge sharing with the RACGP has also helped many colleagues, while his research has contributed to new practice and policy in general practice, and integrated care informatics.

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Emeritus Professor Siaw-Teng Liaw receiving Life Fellowship from RACGP President Dr Nicole Higgins. (Image: Adam Thomas)
 
Professor Liaw’s knowledge and foresight regarding the ethical use of general practice data for evaluation and research purposes is especially valuable in the wake of increased demand for this data by government, primary care organisations, and healthcare and related organisations.
 
As a result of Professor Liaw’s leadership and expertise in this space, he has helped to protect the interests of the thousands of GPs, practices and patients whose data is being used for this purpose.
 
Honorary Fellowship – Dr Timothy Jackson, Rockeby, Tas
Honorary Fellowship recognises services to the RACGP and/or general practice, service to medicine in the fields of education, research and administration, and general service to the community. 
 
One of his nominators described Dr Jackson as a ‘tireless advocate for general practice who continues to advance the profession in Tasmania, inspiring the next generation of junior doctors to pursue a career in general practice’. 
 
He has also served in many leadership roles in Tasmania throughout his career, and as a practice owner and GP, always contribute above and beyond what is required.
 
Corlis Award – Dr Rebecca Stewart, Townsville, Qld
The Corlis Award recognises someone who has contributed significantly to the education and mentoring of doctors on any of the RACGP’s pathways to Fellowship. 
 
Dr Stewart is no exception, with her commitment to medical education described as ‘inspirational’ by her peers.
 
She runs special interest groups, mentors junior medical educators, proposed and actioned the Fellowship Support Program, and is extensively involved in facilitating the Practice Experience Program.
 
Future Leaders President’s Medal – Dr Michael Tam, Haymarket, NSW
The Future Leaders President’s Medal is awarded to an RACGP member who is most likely to contribute to the leadership of the college, or as a leader in general practice into the future. 

Dr Tam is a specialist GP and Director of the Primary and Integrated Care Unit in South Western Sydney Local Health District, combining the provision of family medicine, research, health services development, and governance.
 
His clinical interest lies in the whole-person primary care of people living with mental illness, leading him to become involved in mental health policy, strategy, and governance, with local, state, and national bodies.
 
General Practitioner of the Year (dual winners) – Dr Anju Aggarwal, Strathfield, NSW, and Dr Abhishek Verma, Templestowe, Vic
This prestigious award is presented to those who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to the general practice profession, excellence in primary healthcare provision, and significant involvement in training and continuing professional development. 
 
Dr Aggarwal is known for her passionate involvement in educating, organising and leading health promotion efforts in ethnic and CALD Communities through health checks at community gatherings and Indian Doctors Networks at a national and international level.  
 
Meanwhile, Dr Verma is a GP, medical educator, GP advocate and leader in clinical governance. He practices in Narre Warren and is committed to serving socioeconomically disadvantaged families, recent migrants and people with mental health issues.  
 
General Practice Supervisor of the Year – Dr Alan Leeb, Morley, WA
The General Practice Supervisor of the Year Award recognises dedicated GPs who act as role models, make significant steps in training and mentoring, and deliver registrar training. 
 
Dr Leeb is described as a quiet achiever and highly respected GP, who deserves to be recognised for his decades-long commitment to the local community and his formative role in shaping general practice registrar and medical student training in Australia.
 
He is held in high regard as a trainer and mentor for GP registrars and medical students, and his practice – which has helped to train more than 80 GPs – has an excellent reputation for preparing medical professionals for the future.  
 
General Practitioner in Training of the Year – Dr Karen Freilich, Caulfield North, Vic
This award recognises a registrar’s commitment to general practice, training and learning, their patients, and the community they work in. 
 
This year’s winner is a GP of the future to watch. Dr Freilich’s nominator describes her as an outstanding GP registrar who works well within practice teams, shares her knowledge and skills, and promotes general practice and health issues widely. She is also completing a PhD as part of her Academic Registrar role.

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Dr Karen Freilich receiving her General Practitioner in Training of the Year Awards from RACGP President Dr Nicole Higgins. (Image: Adam Thomas)

 
In awarding her the Victorian GP in Training of the Year award, the Victoria Awards Committee commended Dr Freilich for her commitment to sharing her knowledge and skills to a wide range of learners, working collaboratively with both patients and health professionals in advocating for sexual and reproductive health education and rights, and promoting research and academic roles in general practice.  
 
General Practice of the Year – Barton Lane, Tamworth, NSW
The General Practice of the Year Award recognises practices for their approach to patient’s health and wellbeing.
 
The award criteria takes into account a number of factors, including services offered to patients, health promotion initiatives, provision of high-quality care to patients, and involvement in general practice training.  
 
Barton Lane Practice has delivered primary healthcare to the Tamworth region for more than 130 years and continues to be an innovative industry leader, developing flagship services to keep people well in the community.  
 
The team seeks to deliver comprehensive and coordinated healthcare, guided by values of continuity, integrity, healthy choices, and excellence, supported by a collaborative and sustainable working environment.
 
To facilitate this goal, staff received educational leave, funding for training courses, support from an employee assistance package, ‘healthy staff vouchers’ for fitness and wellbeing activities, and leadership training provided through the HumanApp.
 
Other awards were handed out to recognise outstanding rural GPs and those working in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, which will be detailed in upcoming newsGP articles.
 
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