The home of Rural Generalism, the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM), is proud to support the new Centre for Antarctic, Remote and Maritime Medicine (CARMM) announced today.

The centre, based in Hobart, will draw on expert knowledge developed by the Australian Antarctic Program of which ACRRM Fellow Dr Jeff Ayton is Chief Medical Officer.

Dr Ayton and his team support expeditioners on Australian Antarctic stations and ships in the Southern Ocean, covering an area up to 5500km.

ACRRM President Dr Ewen McPhee says he is excited and proud on the launch of this new Centre and credits the commitment of Dr Ayton for developing unique remote healthcare in isolated and extreme environments.

“This initiative is one that aligns entirely with ACRRM’s vision of having the right doctors in the right places with the right skills, providing rural and remote people with excellent health care,” Dr McPhee says.

“Dr Ayton is a former ACRRM President and Chair of the College’s national telehealth advisory committee. He has worked tirelessly with his team to develop innovative remote healthcare which uses advanced telehealth systems for diagnosis and treatment of patients in what can be argued to be the most remote region in the world.”

“ACRRM commends Dr Ayton and his team for their long-term commitment to establishing the Centre for Antarctic, Remote and Maritime Medicine and the College looks forward to working collaboratively to advance healthcare training and provision in these enormously challenging rural and remote environments.”