A prominent GP who practiced in Maroubra, New South Wales for more than 60 years has bestowed a generous bequest upon the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).
Dr Lynn Harvey Joseph, a World War II veteran and survivor of the Kokoda Track, left $700,000 to the RACGP in the interests of complex chronic disease research when he passed away in July 2013.
The RACGP will use the funding to establish a new research position known as the M, N, L and D Joseph Bequest Research Fellow, who will be appointed to review the evidence surrounding best practice for complex chronic disease treatment.
The bequest is named after the four Joseph brothers, Maurice, Neil, Lynn and Douglas, who were all medical graduates of the Medical School of Sydney spanning the years 1929 to 1947. Maurice went on to be an eminent thoracic physician in Sydney, Neil was a GP in Bondi Beach and Harden, NSW, Lynn was a GP in Maroubra, NSW and Douglas was Foundation Nuffield Professor of Anaesthetics at the University of Sydney, based at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
RACGP President, Dr Frank R Jones said the nominated research fellow will be immersed in an increasingly important area of research, given the rising burden of chronic disease in Australia.
“Chronic disease represents a substantial and increasing portion of healthcare expenditure and health practitioner workloads in Australia”, Dr Jones said.
“GPs are at the forefront of the primary healthcare sector’s efforts to support patients to prevent and manage chronic disease.
“The M, N, L and D Joseph Bequest Research Fellow will be integral in allowing the RACGP to better lobby government for greater understanding and funding for the management of complex chronic disease in general practice.
It is anticipated the M, N, L and D Joseph Bequest Research Fellow will review relevant literature and write academic papers for publication in the RACGP flagship publication Australian Family Physician (AFP), a peer reviewed scientific journal.
The research fellow will also provide clinical briefs and supporting documents, enabling greater understanding and skills in this area of medicine.
The M, N, L and D Joseph Bequest Research Fellow award will be presented annually at the RACGP’s national academic session, alongside other RACGP award winners.
Representatives from the RACGP will formally accept the bequest and meet with Dr Joseph’s family at a private function in Sydney today.