Cutting edge keynote speakers announced for Rural Medicine Australia conference

Rural Medicine Australia 2017
19-21 October 2017, Melbourne

Exciting keynote speakers have been confirmed for the upcoming Rural Medicine Australia 2017 Conference (RMA17), which will be held in Melbourne in October.

The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) and Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) have again joined forces to ensure that RMA17 helps support the delivery of best practice healthcare to rural and remote communities across Australia.

Associate Professor Ruth Stewart, ACRRM President, said she was excited to announce that former Greens Senator, Dr Bob Brown, and Australian Institute of Sport Chief Medical Officer, Dr David Hughes, will be presenting at the event.

“As a past Leader of the Australian Greens and a passionate advocate for the environment, Bob Brown needs little introduction to an Australian audience,” Assoc. Prof Stewart said.

“Since retiring from Parliament, Dr Brown has continued to support human rights and environmental causes and founded the Bob Brown Foundation to assist environmental campaigns in the region.

“Dr Brown will entertain and enlighten us on climate change and medicine, sharing his broad ranging knowledge of environmental issues and policy making at a Government level.

“Dr David Hughes is Chief Medical Officer at the Australian Institute of Sport, and was Medical Director for the 2016 Australian Olympic Team in Rio.

“He has worked extensively with national and international sporting organisations and will share his experience and research when he speaks to RMA17 delegates about the effects of sports-related concussions."

RMA17 is the joint annual conference of ACRRM and RDAA, and provides opportunities for delegates to engage with peers, discover the latest in rural and remote medicine, and undertake professional development activities.

“ACRRM is dedicated to training young doctors for rural practice and supporting rural practitioners throughout their entire career, through innovative support and representation services for rural GPs to ensure the delivery of sustainable, high-quality health services to rural and remote communities” Assoc. Prof Stewart said.

“RMA17 is our peak annual conference. It forms a critical component of our annual activities. It’s a wonderful time of sharing, support and celebration. At RMA we deliver many benefits to delegates in an intensive program. Come and join us.”

RDAA President, Dr Ewen McPhee, said the annual Rural Medicine Australia conference provides not only unparalleled training opportunities, but also an important professional networking link to other rural doctors.

“Many doctors working in rural and remote areas can feel professionally isolated, and often face additional challenges in accessing the training they undertake to ensure they continue to deliver best-practice medicine to their communities.

“The RMA conference allows them to achieve many training outcomes specifically aimed at rural medicine, while also facilitating professional networking that can be so hard to access for many of us.

“RMA is the largest gathering of rural doctors in Australia and provides an inclusive forum on a wide range of topics affecting rural and remote practice.

“Interest from delegates for RMA17 is already strong - don’t miss your opportunity to enjoy a packed program of the very best of rural and remote medicine,” Dr McPhee said.