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Dr Karen Price named RACGP President-elect


Paul Hayes


9/09/2020 10:11:16 AM

Dr Price plans to reassert the role of general practice and adopt a ‘GPs first’ approach.

Dr Karen Price
Dr Price will officially take on the role of RACGP President at the close of the college’s Annual General Meeting on 30 November.

The President-elect is determined to hit the ground running.
 
‘Because there is not a moment to lose,’ she said.
 
‘I will work closely with the executive, the CEO Dr Matthew Miles and Board members to ensure the RACGP is not left behind.

‘I look forward to working closely with Acting President Associate Professor Ayman Shenouda in the important handover period. I would like to personally commend Associate Professor Shenouda’s outstanding contributions during a very difficult year – he has my deepest respect.

‘We must be ambitious, speak up for our members and clearly articulate what we want.

‘Heading into 2021, I plan to reassert the role of general practice and adopt a “GPs first” approach when meeting with the nation’s health leaders. I also believe we need to collaborate with other doctor groups to provide a united force in our dealings with Government.
 
‘We will not agree on everything but, where possible, we can and should work together.’
 
Dr Price will officially take on the role of RACGP President at the close of the college’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 30 November. The Victorian GP will succeed Associate Professor Ayman Shenouda, who assumed the role of Acting President following the death of the late Dr Harry Nespolon, who died in July following a battle with pancreatic cancer.
 
RACGP Board Chair Christine Nixon is eager to work with Dr Price.
 
‘The RACGP has many talented and determined GP members delivering the highest quality of patient care, and our new President comes with a strong track record of representing their interests and fighting for them,’ Ms Nixon said.
 
‘The Board looks forward to working alongside Dr Price from November.’
 
Dr Price is clear that member engagement will play a major role in decision-making as RACGP President.
 
‘The leadership roles I have undertaken mean that I have my finger on the pulse of what issues matter to GPs in communities across Australia,’ Dr Price said. ‘I want to extend that knowledge even further and as President my priority will be to improve engagement with members.
 
‘It doesn’t matter if you work in a major city or if you are the sole doctor in a small town – I want to hear what you have to say and what I can do to help you.
 
‘I plan to meet regularly with groups of GPs in all corners of the country. In the months ahead, these will have to be video meetings rather than face-to-face interactions, but the most important thing will be explaining my agenda as President and listening to the insights of GPs.’
 
Of the 30,261 eligible voters, more than 4000 voted in the RACGP’s 2020 Presidential election. Dr Price secured almost 60% of the vote following preference distribution.
 
‘We are living in uncertain times, but there is reason for hope,’ she said.
 
‘The bushfires and the pandemic have demonstrated once again how vital primary care is when health crises strike, and as President I will seize all opportunities for meaningful advocacy.’
 
Associate Professor Shenouda will remain in the role of RACGP Acting President until the close of the AGM on 30 November 2020.

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Dr Eszter Fenessy   9/09/2020 10:27:17 AM

Congratulations on your Presidency Karen .


Dr Syed Maqsood Ali Shah   9/09/2020 11:01:42 AM

Congratulation to karen . I am sure She will be perfect in her role as RACGP president .


Dr Daniel Thomas Byrne   9/09/2020 11:26:54 AM

Congratulations Karen. Life will be interesting for you over the next two years!!


Dr M Isaac   9/09/2020 12:29:51 PM

Firstly , Congratulations Dr Price for winning the most votes.
I wish you all the best for your new role as a President for RACGP

Secondly, only over 4000 members voted out of 30,000 members!
I think we need more active members . Doctors need to speak up to change the bureaucracy otherwise medicare and politician will dictate whatever they want.


Dr MD Shahadot Hossain   9/09/2020 4:18:41 PM

Congratulations Dr Price , wish you all the best for your future role


Dr Sandye Herve Walpola   10/09/2020 6:49:53 AM

Hi Karen,
Congratulations. With great power comes great responsibility. Would you be able introduce Toastmasters to our organisation to improve communication and leadership please?
Cheers
Sandye


Dr Irandani Anandi Ranasinghe-Markus   10/09/2020 7:54:17 AM

Congratulations Karen Price! Your agenda holds promise for upholding the future of general practice in this country. Love the idea of ‘GP First’. There is much that needs to change in order for patients to be educated about the value of primary health care and for government to place that value on the agenda so policies are designed to make the most of us on the coalface of the health of the nation. The government needs to realise we have the power to keep patients out of hospital but to do that we need more funding and resources.
Can’t believe only 10% of us voted and yet we want all this to change. We need to be more involved!! All the best.


Dr Elizabeth M Sian Ford   10/09/2020 9:30:19 AM

Congratulations Karen! Love GP First! Looking forward to your Presidency and seeing your vitality and passion for General Practice shine through in the trying times ahead


Dr Sasidharan Somasunderam   10/09/2020 1:04:03 PM

Congratulations Karen.
It is sad to see only about 4000 voted. It shows that the RACGP is not in touch with the GP population. I Hope you can improve this and we can work together.


Dr Obafemi Adeyemi Idowu   10/09/2020 6:48:02 PM

Good Luck in your new role.
Keep up the hope in general practice, like Harry.


Dr Suganthi Thangaraju   11/09/2020 8:44:56 AM

Congratulations to Dr Karen and thank you for all who nominated themselves for such an important role. RACGP should be in the interests of the community, advocating Got, training GPs and supporting GPs which I am sure Dr Karen will bring it on. Vale Dr Harry.


Dr Rajan Sarin   13/09/2020 1:22:01 AM

Congratulations Dr Price , wish you all the best for your future role


Dr Elizabeth Dorothy Hindmarsh   13/09/2020 11:49:29 AM

Congratulations Karen on being elected RACGP President. Yes there is lots to be done to try and make the RACGP a more inclusive organisation and less bureaucratic.
Best wishes for the task. Best wishes for representing GPs at all levels of the Government and beyond as we as GPs stand up for patient care and delivering access and equity for all Australians as well as support for GPs and their whole practice.


Dr Boris Mezhov   19/09/2020 7:57:43 PM

Dear Karen,
Sincere and warmest Congratulations!
Protect Doctors on the ground and be tough with Governments.
About 11% of GP electorate voted is a shame.
The reason - the field hard working GPs were repeatedly disheartened by the chain of unnecessary, complicated and not supported by majority of Members reforms introduced by the College bureaucracy.
Fight!
Wish you to have at least 50% voted at the next elections.
With the very best wishes
Dr. Boris Mezhov