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Meet the President-elect

I would like to thank the members of the college for the trust they have placed in me through this election. It is wonderful chance to lead the college at a time of great opportunity for general practice.

College membership is at an all time high, our faculties are strong, and we have a great management team. We have the ability - and the responsibility - to champion general practice. It is essential that all GPs in Australia have a voice and can contribute to the primary health care reform debate.

Taking care of patients as a GP is the best job in medicine and we need to make sure our students know this. Our patients want a continuing relationship with a GP they trust, and they need a GP to act as an advocate to help them get the best care within our fragmented health care system.

The evidence shows us that we need strong general practice to stand at the centre of an effective, equitable and integrated health care system.

We are seeing a new focus on disease prevention and health promotion - giving us a great opportunity to build on the strengths of general practice.

We can turn around the workforce problems for general practice by continuing to reduce red tape, improving rewards for quality care - particularly more complex care, and through essential investment in general practice infrastructure.

General Practitioners need a college that supports them to improve their skills, and makes it easy to provide their patients the best care possible.

That's the college I am honoured to lead.

We have a lot of work to do and I am really looking forward to the challenge.

Dr Christopher Mitchell

Publication Date: 17 July 2008
Authorised By: Council