A belated shout-out to the winners of the prestigious North Coast region 2021 GP Synergy awards.
GP Synergy annually presents a number of awards to recognise excellence and ongoing commitment to quality general practice education and training by:
- an accredited GP Synergy supervisor
- a practice manager of an accredited GP Synergy practice
- a GP Synergy registrar.
Registrar of the Year
Joint winners of the Registrar of the Year Award were Grafton-based Dr Vanessa Hewitt and Murwillumbah’s Dr Susan Roberts.
Dr Hewitt is undertaking GP training at Ochre Health and in 2021 worked in the Grafton Hospital Emergency Department.
“I feel very proud to have won this award as an ACRRM rural generalist trainee in the Clarence Valley,” Dr Hewitt said.
Dr Roberts is training to become a specialist GP at Murwillumbah’s Main Street Medical Centre and took a ‘year out’ to work at the Tweed Hospital Emergency Department.
“That one year turned into many years,” Dr Roberts said. “I really enjoyed the variety and team environment in the emergency department, but I opted to join the GP training program to still have that clinical variety but with more of a work-life balance.
“I am delighted to have received this award in what has been a very challenging year for those working in healthcare.”
Supervisor of the Year
Dr Vinay Potumuthu of McKid Medical in Kyogle was recognised for his outstanding contribution to training the next generation of GPs, by being named GP Synergy Supervisor of the Year for the North Coast training region.
“I decided to become a GP supervisor as it’s a wonderful opportunity to contribute to the development of competent GP registrars equipped to provide safe and appropriate patient care,” Dr Potumuthu said.
“Nurturing the next generation of general practitioners here in Kyogle is very satisfying. I feel thankful and humbled to receive the award.”
Practice Manager of the Year
Mandy Harrison of Coffs Medical Centre is the 2021 GP Synergy Practice Manager of the Year for the North Coast training region.
Feeling immense gratitude for the award, Ms Harrison cited the team at Coffs Medical Centre and their loyal patients as the best part of being a practice manager.
“I’ve been a practice manager for more than 25 years, and some of the relationships that I have forged with GP registrars who trained in the practice are still current today,” Ms Harrison said.