Queensland’s Dr Sarah Beck of Thursday Island Hospital has today been awarded this year’s 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 GP14 conference in Adelaide, Dr Liz Marles, RACGP President, congratulated Dr Beck and acknowledged her outstanding commitment to remote Indigenous women's health in the Torres Strait.
“Dr Beck’s understanding of general practice and commitment to the principles of quality patient care go above and beyond expectations and she is an exemplary example of the values and ethics upheld by the RACGP,” said Dr Marles.
“She has demonstrated passion, commitment, understanding and leadership as a driving force behind sustaining dedicated Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) clinics in the Torres Strait, having identified the need for a coordinated approach to this serious health concern in the region.
“Dr Beck has shown her dedication to maintaining women's health services in the Torres Strait by coordinating and running women’s health clinics, and using her procedural skills in colposcopy and obstetrics.
“I am delighted to present her with the 2014 RACGP General Practice Registrar of the Year Award.”
Dr Beck recognised a great need for colposcopy in the district, and is working towards Colposcopy Quality Improvement Program (C-QuIP) certification by upskilling at Cairns Hospital and the Royal Women's Hospital in Melbourne.
She has completed the Advanced Diploma of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (DRANZCOG) and actively participates in maternity services at Thursday Island and Bamaga Hospitals.
Dr Beck is also a GP with the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Rural Women’s GP Service, providing regular services to remote indigenous communities in areas of limited medical resources and high need in the Torres Strait, including Saibai, Boigu and Horn Islands.
Dr Beck said she was honoured to have been nominated for and receive this award.
“To be recognised by the RACGP for doing what I love is incredibly rewarding,” said Dr Beck.
“I have been extremely fortunate to have received such incredible guidance as a GP registrar and I thank everyone who has played a role in guiding me to where I am today.”
For more information on GP14 – The RACGP’s annual conference for general practice, taking place from 9-11 October in Adelaide, visit the GP14 website.
Further information on the 2014 RACGP Awards can be found on the RACGP website.