Doctorate student earns major national award
Monash doctorate student and rural general practitioner Dr Jenny May has earned a marvellous accolade by being awarded the Royal Australian General Practitioners (RACGP) Brian Williams Award 2012.
The award is presented by the RACGP National Rural Faculty to a member of the College who has made a significant contribution to the personal and professional welfare of rural doctors.
Dr May’s advocacy work for rural doctors as well as her commitment to the future of general practice earned her the Brian Williams Award, the highest accolade to be awarded by the RACGP National Rural Faculty.
As well as practising a GP in Tamworth NSW, and holding a number of representative roles, Dr May has also been busy working on her own further education with Monash University.
With our Head of School, Professor Judi Walker, as main supervisor and Matthew McGrail from Gippsland Medical School as associate supervisor, Dr May is undertaking a Doctorate by Research as her program of study.
Her thesis title is: ‘Rural’ or ‘Urban’? – An in-depth analysis of medical workforce issues in regional centres of Australia.’
The topic will enable Dr May to look at issues that influence recruitment and retention to regional centres.
When presenting the award at the RACGP Academic Session during the Conference for General Practice, Chair of the National Rural Faculty, Dr Kathryn Kirkpatrick, said that Dr May was a very worthy recipient.
“Dr May’s passion for rural practice is unquestionable, as it is her great passion for the future of general practice and the education of the next generation of general practitioners for rural and remote Australia. She has consistently shown a dedication to general practice through both her professional and personal endeavours,” she said.
Professor Walker described the award as “absolutely wonderful honour for Jenny.”
The Brian Williams Award commemorates the work of the late Dr Brian Williams, a rural general practitioner, medical educator and Director of the WA Centre for Remote and Rural Medicine. Dr Williams was a staunch advocate for rural general practice and the need for rural GPs to provide support to their peers in order to improve rural general practice.