RACGP - Council member profiles

These profiles of some of our Council members are here for you to put a face to a name and learn a little more about the Council member who represents you in your community.

Dr Rebekah Hoffman

Chair, Sydney South-East

The attraction to general practice for me was the variety. Not knowing what I would be doing day to day, and also the ability to have variety in my out of clinical work; into research, teaching, advocacy, leadership and podcasting!

I really like the little things, when a patient has been sent in by a loved one as they think you are a lovely person, or when a child comes and sees you for a second, or third, or fourth time and they no longer scream down the waiting room, they now high five, or even give you a thank you hug when they get in.

The highlands are beautiful. I love the early morning frost on the ground as I drive in during winter, when I am very glad my office has the morning sun, and heating!

I believe in saying yes. When someone suggests you do something, join something, try something, especially when you have not heard of it before, or it is slightly outside of your comfort zone, give it a go.

What no one knows about me is that somewhere deep in my handbag, or at furthest in my car - I am always carrying my knitting. Any opportunity to have a five minute relaxing knit will be taken.

Dr Anju Aggarwal

Nepean Blue Mountains representative

I am a GP for the love of General Practice. The profession continues to energise and motivate, and I still find it incredibly rewarding and fulfilling. It gives me diversity and much needed flexibility; and I am grateful and passionate about all I can do being a GP.

Especially now that both my boys have grown up, I have more time to explore and experience other adventures and privileges within the profession.

I would encourage more of our members to be involved in RACGP activities, which will enable them to further address health problems affecting their local area and general practice. I would particularly use this opportunity to spread the message of well-being and self-care. General practice is not without challenges and over the years I have learned to deal with any problem by breaking it into smaller parts and through prioritising and planning. I've been amazed by the effect this has had on both myself and loved ones.

And for something no one knows about me, I always keep a small soft ball in my handbag. It helps remind me to keep good posture and to do 5 stretches each time I see it!

A/Prof Michael Fasher

Provost

I was initially attracted to general practice by the opportunity to provide ongoing medical care for children. Over time colleagues inspired me to explore the potential in general practice for helping families and communities raise healthy, well-adjusted children and young people.

Among many "best moments" during my clinical career was the discovery that eviscerating negative feedback can be horizon expanding.

As a Councillor my primary aim is to support efforts to see that the College leads in what matters. This includes helping sustain a culture within the College of robust, yet respectful, debate.

The "one" thing I have learned as a general practitioner is that a lot goes into minimising harm - doing no harm cannot come first.

One thing that nobody knows about me on a personal level is that as a child I wanted to be a steam train driver when I grew up!

Dr Emily Rushton

ACT

After my junior doctor training I found myself struggling to pick one of my many different clinical interests to follow, so I decided to train in general practice so I could do a bit of everything. There is no such thing as a typical day in general practice, and I enjoy the challenge and the pace that comes with the unpredictability. General practice training also opens the door to a wide variety of opportunities in clinical medicine, research, policy, academia and business management.

My favourite moment in general practice is the satisfaction of cracking a tricky diagnosis. It is also rewarding to know that patient values your care enough to come back again and again, or to refer their loved ones to come see you.

My objective on the Council is to advocate for the interests of GPs in Training and to promote reform that will make general practice an attractive and respected career choice for medical graduates. One thing I would like to tell my fellow GPs is to never underestimate how grateful your registrar would be to come and see that interesting presentation or examination finding. I am thrilled every time I pick up the phone and hear my GP supervisor say "Have you got a minute to come and see something interesting?"

One thing that I don't think many people would know about me is that after a hard day I love to decompress with a loud and enthusiastic singalong in the car.

Dr Karin Jodlowski-Tan

GP Training and Rural Faculty Representative

I stumbled into general practice and found that it suited my broad interests across all the disciplines of medicine. It allowed my husband and I to travel and work across different rural settings. I was also able to pursue my interests in integrative medicine and learn additional skills in musculoskeletal medicine and acupuncture.

Following graduation, I worked for over 20 years in rural and remote general practice, particularly in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services, and longstanding involvement in GP education with colleges and training organistations.

There is a sense of connection with community, and the land, which pervades into one’s being. Rural becomes a sense of one’s identity, not just geographical. I love the sense of belonging and purpose. There is nothing that invigorates the soul as feeling the thrill of delivering a new life or sharing with a patient in the last moments of their life. As a rural GP we are privileged to be part of such intimate moments of people’s lives.

Over the past 15 years I have been involved in various RACGP committees, including the Rural Education Committee, and the NSW faculty council. As a Rural Council member, we have a responsibility to champion for rural and for our professional roles. We have the opportunity to improve education and support to future rural GP’s and enable a stronger voice in the systems that influence health and wellbeing outcomes for everyone.

Some of the most defining moments relate to the times I spent with patients who are dying. I really treasure the times I was allowed into the sanctity of their homes, surrounded by their families and being given moments from the previous moments they have left. Even though we may just hold hands in silence, it’s almost like we are connected without words. That’s so precious.

Prof Charlotte Hespe

Sydney Inner West

I was attracted to general practice by the flexibility and the variety; the option to do a bit of everything rather than be stuck in one small area of medicine.

There’s not one best moment as a general practitioner; there are daily bests. We are involved in people’s lives from start to finish. It’s the joy and privilege of being in someone’s life.

As a Council member my objective is to have a voice around improving both the health of our community and how GPs can provide the services that are instrumental to improving health care. As Faculty Chair I am a member of the RACGP Board of Directors.

One thing that I have learnt which others may benefit from is that the power of listening cannot be understated.

On a personal note, I’m a mean crochet and knitter. I get a lot of enjoyment out of creating in craft and food.

Dr Kim Loo

I was drawn to general practice as it is the only specialty that allows you to look after a whole person. Other specialties look after bits of people.

The absolute joy of general practice is looking after the families and their subsequent children. Few other jobs allow you have such a deep connection with families and their communities.

As a Faculty Council member my objective is to advocate for action on social and environmental determinants of health. Meaningful policies that help protect our communities. General practice has been hammered by the impacts of heat waves and extreme weather.

I have spent the entirety of my working life in Western Sydney. It is getting hotter. I have been working with councils to advocate for heat adaptation plans, advocating for improved building codes, and increasing canopy cover; and with community to educate them about keeping safe during heatwaves. We are just at the beginning of adaptation for disasters to come. The flexibility of General Practice allows me to do my advocacy work. I enjoy listening to patents and enhancing their science and health literacy skills, and working as a team, including the wonderful nurses at the practice. I am active on social media with my thoughts and actions.

Dr Mary Beth MacIsaac

Far West representative

I knew General Practice was the career for me when I did a medical student placement in rural Canada. My supervisor disagreed, and said I’d want a better life than he had, and admittedly, the 1 in 2 on call rotation didn’t seem that attractive. But I saw the huge impact he made on his community, and the varied and interesting work, and I was hooked.

I started my career in a rural ED and was greatly influenced by colleagues who were adamant that rural shouldn’t mean lesser- that the standards of care needed to be as high if not higher than urban centres. They drove innovation and education that meant that new treatments such as thrombolytics for acute stroke were adopted at the same time as city teaching hospitals.

After a couple of years, I made the big move to Australia and worked in South East Sydney for 10 years, including in General Practice Registrar training. I am passionate about teaching general practice- but believe I learnt as much from my registrars.

I believe strongly that the immeasurable aspects of patient care are important, and that reductionist strategies to measure general practice quality will result in poor patient outcomes. My interest in quality care brought me to the RACGP Future Leaders program and membership in the RACGP Expert Committee Quality Care.

In 2020, I became the Senior Medical Officer in Primary Care for the Royal Flying Doctor Service South East Section based in Broken Hill, and assisted with the expansion of their Primary Care services. In early 2023, I moved south and am currently working at Coomealla Health Aboriginal Corporation in Dareton, New South Wales and am the Director of Medical Education for Mildura Base Public Hospital.

A/Prof Ayman Shenouda

Murrumbidgee regional representative

I’ve been involved in a leadership position within the College for more than two decades and was appointed as president in 2020 and was vice president for the 2 years prior. I also held the position of Chair of RACGP Rural in October 2014 and served as Chair until October 2020, after serving as Deputy Chair for six years. I’m also a member of RACGP NSW&ACT and was on the RACGP National Standard Committee – Education for several years. I’m the current Chair of Wagga Wagga GP After Hours Services. Former roles include Chair of the Remote Vocational Training Scheme, Director of Medical Education Coast City Country General Practice Training Riverina/Murrumbidgee, and Director on the board of the Riverina Division of General Practice and Primary Health.

I was named the 2009 RACGP General Practitioner of the Year, while my practice, Glenrock Country Practice, was named the 2007 NSW&ACT General Practice of the Year and awarded three Australian General Practice Accreditation Limited awards in 2009 and 2010.

After migrating from Egypt more than 28 years ago, I commenced my medical career in Australia as a surgical registrar in Tasmania in 1995 and have been a rural GP in Wagga Wagga for the past 20 years, where I established Glenrock Country Practice. My special interest is in education and training and am passionate about developing quality frameworks and systematic management tools to enable and enhance the work undertaken by GPs, and about improving patient access and delivering equitable, high-quality patient care in rural and remote Australia.

In 2022, I was awarded The Rose-Hunt Award it is the highest accolade awarded by the RACGP. The award is a gift from the Royal College of General Practitioners to the RACGP, commemorating the founding members of the Royal College of General Practitioners, Dr Fraser Rose and Lord Hunt of Fawley.

A/Prof Michelle Guppy

New England representative

I was attracted to general practice by my own GP, who had been my family doctor since I was a small child. As a medical student I worked in his practice as a receptionist and was inspired by the high regard in which he was held by all his patients. As a junior doctor I couldn’t decide which discipline of medicine interested me the most- there were so many varied things you could do as a doctor. A wise GP told me I could combine it all with a career in general practice.

My objective as a council member is to ensure that the voice of rural GPs and the interests of rural communities and patients are heard. Rural Australia is such a fantastic place to live and thrive.

Dr Kenneth McCroary

Sydney South West representative

I was mostly fascinated by cardio-vascular disease, but found myself in general practice as the result of a long-standing relationship which directed me toward this medicine specialty. As a GP the best moments come from having fun, each and every day, no matter what is happening – there are silver linings to be found everywhere.

As a Faculty Council member my objective is to advocate for general practitioners, their practices and teams, and the patient community of southwest Sydney for improved health outcomes and life journeys, and to work with the Council to expand these goals throughout NSW and ACT.

On a personal level, my favourite activity is scuba diving in Papua New Guinea!

As a GP I have learnt that engaging, observing and caring can make a huge difference in someone’s life. It only takes one person to take the time to ask “how are you?” or mention that the way someone is living is not normal, and a person’s entire world can change.

As part of my out-of-practice activities I do an interview program – GP Link Lunches which can be accessed via the South Western Sydney PHN website.

Dr Marisa Magiros

ACT

My family and I relocated from Sydney to Canberra in January 2022 so I still feel "new" to the ACT health system. I joined the NSW & ACT Faculty as one of the ACT representatives in February 2024 as a way to learn from my peers and colleagues and to advocate for the needs of doctors and patients in the ACT.

I love the variety, whole person longitudinal care that is general practice. It's a privilege to walk alongside people throughout their journeys providing acute and preventative healthcare, being the guide on the side cheering them on, supporting them through the ups and downs and helping navigate the complex medical systems we practice in. Some days my most effective treatment is a listening ear and consensual therapeutic hug! It's important to accept that we will never know it all and to be comfortable with the grey of general practice - have a safe approach, utilise time as a revealer, know your strengths and limits, ask for help when needed and look after yourself.

Alongside clinical work I've also worked as a medical educator in general practice training and with MDAN Eastern cases committee providing standard of care advice. There are many facets to GP work!

One thing you don't know about me is that I've started playing walking soccer. Think Olympic style fast walking almost but not quite running. It's lots of fun and gives a great workout in a team setting. This is my way to try and keep up with my soccer mad sons!

Dr Max Mollenkopf

Deputy Chair, Hunter

I joined the NSW&ACT Faculty Council in 2024. I was motivated to nominate for Council as I think we are in a unique position as a profession where large scale change is occurring around us. The RACGP remains our best voice during that time and it relies on members coming forward and representing the views of GPs on the ground. I would love for the Council to spend more time on what general practice looks like moving forward. It’s really important for us to define and question what type of clinicians we need to be moving forward. The primary care world is being redefined and we need to ensure patients have a GP at the core of that delivery model. I was attracted to the GP profession after fantastic experiences as student showed me just how much value you can bring to your patients life when you give them longitudinal care.

Dr Rula Ali

Deputy Chair

Dr Rula Ali is a GP, a supervisor and a senior lecturer at the school of medicine in UNSW. She completed her medical degree at Auckland University and spent the final time of her degree in Oxford where she did general surgery and research. Rula was the Director of the Practice Experience Program (PEP) for NSW and ACT for four years, which mainly supported International Medical Graduates. As the director of PEP, she had oversight of managing a large team, budget control, risk assessment, marketing, evaluation, as well as stakeholders engagement. She is proud to have supported through her role in PEP around 750 doctors working in rural and remote Australia to become more competent and confident GPs. Rula sat on the Education Outcome Monitoring Committee in GP Synergy. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and she was the Company Secretary for GP Synergy and the National Clinical Lead for Evaluation and Quality Assurance for the RACGP. Rula sits on the Central and Eastern Sydney Primary Health Network Clinical Council, and she is the Deputy Chair for the Shire GP group. She is on the advisory committee of the Centre for Primary Health Care and Equity in UNSW.

Dr Ania Samarawickrama

I am a General Practitioner, advocate and researcher with a passion for health equity and social justice. I strive to take inter-sectoral action to address social, economic and environmental determinants of health. I graduated from the University of Sydney in 2012 and completed my specialist General Practice training in 2019 after working in Australia and the United Kingdom. Since then, I have focussed my clinical practice in western Sydney, an area of high social, cultural and economic diversity where social determinants of health need to be addressed alongside clinical needs. I believe that challenges of social inequity and health disparities need multi-sectoral action. To that end, I serve in a number of advisory and advocacy roles. I am also an active researcher and current higher research degree candidate at the University of Sydney in the field of perinatal epidemiology. My academic focus is on the social, cultural and economic determinants of lifestyle factors during early pregnancy, including diet, physical activity, and mental health. By combining my clinical, advocacy and research skills, I hope to be at the forefront of collaborative, system-wide improvement in primary care to better address health justice and social equity.

Dr Deb King

Mid North Coast

I have been a GP for over 20 years and have worked in a diverse range of medical centers including small and large clinics as well as city and rural practices and now I am a practice owner of my own GP clinics with my husband. Currently I work at a small outreach medical service treating farmers and their families of a small country community and a larger medical centre in Port Macquarie with a mix of patients. I believe as a GP, you can provide whole patient care to your patients. You get to grow old with your patients and their families, you become a part of their lives.

I believe GP's are pivotal in the future of our nation's health and we are an essential part of improving the health and well-being of all Australians. Therefore, it is crucial for GPs needs and well-being to be supported and represented.

I joined the RACGP faculty in 2020 to advocate for GPs, to increase public and political awareness of what we do and the challenges we face.

Dr Spela Berlec

Junior Doctor Representative

I am a recent medical graduate, set to begin my internship in January 2025 at Sutherland Hospital and St. George Hospital. I am drawn to general practice because of its profound yet understated impact—it quietly transforms lives, improving and often saving them every single day. I find great fulfilment in connecting with patients, learning about their stories, and witnessing the positive difference in their well-being when they leave feeling better and more hopeful than when they arrived to the practice.

As a Council member, my goal is to actively promote general practice among my fellow JMOs and advocate for improved training conditions. I am deeply committed to fostering diversity and inclusion, ensuring equitable access to healthcare, and upholding the human rights of both patients and doctors. I am eager to contribute meaningfully to advancing these important causes.

One surprising fact about me is that I was once an avid scuba diver and had the thrilling experience of diving with various sharks, including bull sharks and even great whites.

Dr James Kelly

Central & Eastern Sydney

After years of working in hospital medicine, I found myself drawn to the variety and continuity of general practice. I enjoy the challenge of managing complex conditions, the privilege of building long-term relationships with patients, and the unpredictability that keeps each day interesting.

One of the most rewarding parts of my work is helping patients navigate health challenges that can feel overwhelming. Whether it’s cracking a tricky diagnosis, guiding someone through a new or life changing condition, or simply being a trusted presence in their healthcare journey, I find GP work both challenging and deeply fulfilling, and it's the greatest honour of my life to work as a General Practitioner.

As the RACGP NSW Faculty Representative for Central Sydney and Eastern Sydney, my goal is to advocate for GPs, ensuring we have the resources and support to provide high-quality care while making general practice a sustainable and respected career choice.

After a long day, you’ll find me unwinding with my two dogs—one glued to my side, the other ruling the house.

Dr George Shehata

Central Coast

I was drawn to general practice because of its unique ability to provide tailored medical care as I am passionate about delivering personalized care and building lasting relationships with my patients. As a GP, I am privileged to be a part of my patients' lives, guiding them through various stages of life and health. My days are filled with a diverse range of patients, from newborns with their loving parents to elderly individuals with their caring supporting adult children. I have the opportunity to support families through various challenges, practice all fields of medicine, and make a positive impact on my community.

One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is the relationships I build with my patients. I cherish moments when children excitedly call out to me, create heartfelt cards, or simply appreciate the care they receive. Witnessing patients recover and receive good news is also incredibly fulfilling. I feel privileged to be part of their health journey.

By Joining the Council, my goal is to revitalize and prioritize Australia's general practice, addressing the challenges GPs face at every career stage. I believe in promoting a supportive environment where GPs can thrive, both personally and professionally. And reshaping the future of general practice in Australia, ensuring that every individual receives high-quality, patient-centred care.

A valuable lesson I've learned throughout my career is the importance of maintaining my own health and family life while being available to my patients. On a personal note, I owe my success to the unwavering support of my wife.

Council member profiles

Meet our members

Following are their stories.