Doctors for
Women in Rural Medicine

A/Prof Michael Clements is an experienced Townsville based General Practitioner and practice owner with a background in health leadership and clinical and corporate governance. A/Prof Clements has accrued a wide variety of skills and special interests in his time with the Royal Australian Air Force and then with QLD Health as Director of Medical Services at Ingham Hospital before opening his private practices in Townsville while concurrently working for the QLD Rural Generalist Training Pathway as an advisor. Having worked in rural, remote and overseas clinical environments during and after his fellowship training Michael now gets his ‘rural fix’ by flying himself and other clinicians to remote towns in the Gulf of Carpentaria delivering GP clinics. Clinical interests include veterans’ health, mental health, chronic disease and palliative care. Michael is an Honorary Associate Professor with James Cook University.

Annette was born in England but grew up in Western Australia. She always wanted to work rurally and to be challenged. Annette has spent the last 35 years in rural areas around Australia, working in GP obstetrics, anaesthetics, and emergency medicine, as well as owning her own practice and working in a variety of other practices. She is now back in Western Australia, combining ED with medical admin. Whilst retirement may be on the horizon, for now Annette is still happy to keep challenging herself.

Dr Karin Jodlowski-Tan grew up and trained in Australia. Following graduation, she worked for over 20 years in rural and remote general practice, particularly in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services, and has a longstanding involvement in GP education with colleges (ACRRM, RACGP, AMAC), and training organisations (RVTS, ACRRM Independent Pathway). She has been involved with rural GP recruitment and retention across her various roles with ACCHS’s, general practices, primary health network (PHN) and training organisations.
 
Currently she’s working as the National Deputy Director of Training - Rural Pathways at the RACGP, supporting the work in transitioning to college-led training, and recently led the remote clinical exam project.
 
Over the past 15 years she has been involved in various RACGP committees, including the Rural Education Committee, and the NSW faculty council.
 
Her special interests include innovations in remote education, nutritional medicine and acupuncture, and more recently the development of physician leadership, and corporate social responsibility projects.

Dr Kerby Siemsen has commenced her return of service for the Australian Army working from Lavarack Barracks. Before this, she was working on tropical Magnetic Island, in far north Queensland. In 2018, Kerby graduated medicine from the University of New England (UNE), becoming the first female Aboriginal student and only the second Aboriginal medical student to graduate from UNE’s School of Rural Medicine since the introduction of the Joint Medical Program in 2008.

Associate Professor Riitta Partanen has been serving the Queensland community of Maryborough as a GP since 1996. Riitta grew up in Tully and completed her medical degree at The University of Qld. She moved to Maryborough as a junior doctor, where she gained her Diploma of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and commenced her General Practice training. Riitta now works as a part-time GP enjoying the breadth of General Practice but has a particular interest in Women’s Health and Skin Cancer Surgery.  Riitta has been involved in Medical Education for over 20 years and is the Director of The University of Queensland Rural Clinical School. When not working Riitta enjoys spending time with her family and friends, playing golf, and travelling.  

Dr Donna O’Kane is an experienced rural generalist, based in the NT on and off since 1998. She grew up on a farm in rural Victoria, trained at Monash University, and gained advanced training in anaesthetics, obstetrics and paediatrics as her extended skills. Donna was worked and lived with her family in remote communities for the past 15 years. She understands the challenges and rewards rural doctors and their families face while in remote Australia.  Donna has twin boys, and enjoys swimming, cycling and a good book.  

Dr Melanie Matthews is the Deputy Chair and the Northern Territory representative for the RACGP Rural Council.  She currently lives and works in West Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory and loves the lifestyle and warm weather of the Top End.
 
In her spare time she enjoys walking and cuddling her dogs, reading fiction, spending time with family and friends and travelling the world.

Dr Kaylene Girgenti was a member of the first cohort of JCU Medical Graduates. She was born in Townsville, grew up in Ingham, and is now living in Townsville after spending time in Mackay, Moranbah, and Canada.  She continues travelling to rural areas to maintain her practise in rural medicine, which she loves.  As well as working in rural clinics on Magnetic Island and Karumba - she also works at the Townsville Hospital in the Antenatal clinics, in the Mater Emergency Department, and in General Practise in Bushland Beach.  She loves rural medicine - but as a mother of small children - she recognise the difficulties faced by doctors working in these areas - particularly women. 

Dr Dinara Markhabullina was born in Uzbekistan and moved to Russia. She completed her medical training at Kazan State Medical University in 2006 and has more than 15 years of experience in the Medical Field. Dr Dinara moved to Australia with her family in 2021.

Dr Markhabullina loves the rural life in NSW and, when not at work, enjoys going for walks, reading and playing tennis. Currently, Dr Dinara is looking forward to enrolling and completing the Fellowship program to stay practising in rural communities.

Dr Dinara chose to be a General Practitioner to provide people with comprehensive and coordinated health care. Dr Dinara is keen on women's health, starting with birth and ending with menopausal disorders. Dr Dinara Markhabullina represents international medical graduates.