Dr Bastian Seidel, a GP from the Huon Valley in Tasmania, has been announced as President-elect of The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).
Dr Seidel, who will take over the role from current RACGP President Dr Frank R Jones in September, has vowed to build on the RACGP’s growing public profile to ensure general practice remains at the heart of public dialogue on health.
“I am absolutely delighted and honoured to have been elected by our members to this important role and look forward to making a positive impact on behalf of Australia’s general practitioners, our college and our patients,” he said.
“With general practice funding increasingly under threat the role of the RACGP in representing and communicating the interests of members and patients has never been more important.”
Dr Seidel praised incumbent RACGP president Dr Frank R Jones for his achievements.
“I will endeavour to be as passionate and vocal in advocating for primary healthcare as Dr Jones but he will be hard act to follow.”
Dr Seidel has over 10 years' clinical experience and is a partner and co-owner of a rural general practice in the Huon Valley in southern Tasmania. He is the current Chair of the RACGP in Tasmania and studied medicine in Germany and South Africa completing his vocational training as a GP in the United Kingdom in 2006. He holds a doctorate in paediatric immunology.
Dr Mary-Therese Wyatt has been elected Registrar Representative on Council.
Dr Wyatt is a recent fellow of the RACGP, practicing in outer metro Perth, WA. Dr Wyatt has been actively involved with General Practice Registrars Australia (GPRA) and Western Australian General Practice Education and Training (WAGPET). Prior to medical training, Dr Wyatt studied biomedical science and spent several years as a high school mathematics teacher, working in country NSW.
Dr Mark Miller has been re-appointed RACGP Censor-in-Chief, having held the position since 2014. Dr Miller is a full-time GP from South Australia
The RACGP congratulates Dr Seidel, Dr Wyatt and Dr Miller on their election and looks forward to working with them to help shape the future landscape of general practice in Australia.
More information about Dr Seidel, Dr Wyatt and Dr Miller is available on the RACGP website.