Dr Rebekah Adams from Broome, Western Australia, has won this year’s the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) General Practice Registrar of the Year Award.
The RACGP General Practice Registrar of the Year award recognises the strong commitment made by a general practice registrar to learning, the general practice profession and provision of high quality patient care.
Presenting the award on the eve of the GP13 conference in Darwin, Dr Liz Marles, RACGP President, congratulated Dr Adams and acknowledged her commitment to patients, fellow general practitioners (GPs) and the community, which often exceeds standard healthcare delivery.
“Dr Adams is an inspiration, not only to other registrars, GPs, staff and students, but importantly to patients. She manages a demanding work and study load, demonstrating enthusiasm and innovation toward education and learning, at the same time juggling her young family and community involvement.
“Dr Adams is an exemplary registrar who upholds all of the qualities we hope for in a member of the general practice profession and I am delighted to present her with the 2013 RACGP General Practice Registrar of the Year Award,” she said.
Dr Adams currently works at the Kimberly Aboriginal Medical Services Council in Broome. She is currently undertaking advanced skills training, which includes clinical work at the Broome regional hospital, Broome regional Aboriginal Medical Service and working with medical students though the Rural Clinical School. Dr Adams has successfully completed all assessment and exam components to achieve Fellowship with the RACGP.
Providing outreach services to Father McMahon (services for marginalised population) and local women’s shelter, in addition to making a weekly contribution to the Broome Regional Hospital obstetric service, Dr Adams demonstrates sound medical knowledge and an innate community perspective on a daily basis.
“Dr Adams exemplifies a GP’s need for a strong focus in looking at the patient’s immediate medical issues but also to reflect on how social settings impact on diagnosis and treatment options. Dr Adams’ commitment to her patients sees her regularly produce creative methods to assist patients meet their individual health outcomes,” she said.
An advocate for education, Dr Adams actively encourages registrars to become involved in medical student teaching. Her outstanding teaching skills have resulted in employment as an academic by the Rural Clinical School of the University of Western Australia and she is currently working toward completion of a Master of Clinical Education through Flinders University, SA.
Dr Adams said she was surprised and honoured to receive this award.
“I love my job. Every day brings a new story and a new challenge. I am so lucky to have the support of my wonderful husband and children who are the light of my life and make it all possible. It has been a long and winding road from medical school to rural general practice, the career I dreamed about when I returned to university. I have been fortunate to have inspiring and supportive mentors and colleagues along the way and hope to pay this support and mentorship forward in my teaching roles,” she said.
For more information on GP13 – The Conference for General Practice, taking place from 17-19 October in Darwin, visit www.gp13.com.au.
Further information on the 2013 RACGP Award categories can be found at www.racgp.org.au/awards.