Dr Michelle Hannan, a high achieving GP Registrar at Mount Isa’s Royal Flying Doctor Service in Mount Isa, Queensland, has won the Rural Registrar of the Year Award for 2017.
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The Award was presented at a gala dinner for the Rural Medicine Australia 2017 conference, in Melbourne on Friday night.
Dr Hannan was raised in Goondiwindi and studied Medical Science and Medicine at the University of New South Wales, and a Diploma of Child Health at Westmead Children’s Hospital and the University of Sydney.
She is now a Fellow of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) with Advanced Skills Training in Emergency Medicine.
Dr Hannan is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, is actively engaged with the Women on Boards program, and is a Clinical Lecturer at the University of Tasmania. She is also a current Master of Public Health candidate at James Cook University.
She also study viticulture and winemaking at the University of Melbourne and previously owned and operated a ten acre vineyard in Tasmania, growing pinot noir, riesling and chardonnay grapes.
Earlier this year, Dr Hannan moved from Tasmania to work with the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Broken Hill and Mount Isa to achieve this additional experience.
Dr Hannan paid tribute to the rural doctors and others who had helped her during her years as a medical student, junior doctor and now rural GP Registrar.
“I've had lots of support and many great mentors since starting down the path to rural medicine, and I’ve benefitted from some wonderful clinical placements along the way,” she said.
“Working with the Royal Flying Doctor Service has given me another new perspective on rural and remote medicine — and why it makes for such an incredibly interesting medical career.
“The distances we are covering in getting to patients in need are immense, and the many remote communities we service are always very grateful for our help.”
ACRRM President, Professor Ruth Stewart said Dr Hannan was an inspiration to her colleagues and very much deserves to be recognised for her service to rural medicine.
“She has a strong drive to improve the standing of Rural Generalist Medicine nationally, and her commitment to clinical and educational excellence shines through, both in her own work and through her involvement in a significant number of rural medical committees and interest groups,” Prof Stewart said.
“Michelle has been continuously involved in medical workforce advocacy since her time as a medical student and throughout her time as a junior doctor. Her commitment to rural health shines through in all she has done.
Outgoing President of the Rural Doctors Association of Australia Dr Ewen McPhee said Dr Hannan was a dedicated participant in their work to improve access to healthcare for rural and remote Australians.
“Earlier this year she was an invited speaker at RDAA’s Annual Breakfast for Federal Politicians at Parliament House in Canberra, where she spoke about the strong contribution that Rural Generalist doctors can make in country communities,” he said.