JOINT RELEASE: Daring, dangerous and different Former special forces army doctor and the resilience construct

Timor Leste, Afghanistan, remote mine sites, ships, prisons and regional hospitals are just some of the locations decorated former army medic, Dr Dan Pronk, has explored the concept of resilience, which he will share with almost 1000 delegates at Rural Medicine Australia 2022 (RMA22), Australia’s peak rural doctor conference.

RMA22 is the joint annual conference of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) and the Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) and is Australia’s largest gathering of rural doctors.

ACRRM President, Dr Dan Halliday, said that after the past two years which further stretched rural health services that were already beyond capacity, there was never a more relevant time to reflect on resilience and how it can be utilised by rural doctors.

“Rural health care has been under pressure for so long, our doctors already think they know a lot about resilience,” Dr Halliday said.

“Dr Pronk takes this to a new level, having received a Commendation for Distinguished Service for his leadership in action during his second of four operational tours of Afghanistan, his variety of rural and remote medical support tasks (including for reality TV show SAS Australia), but importantly also scientific literature and the outcomes from a research project, to present resilience as a multifactorial, dynamic, and modifiable construct.

“We look forward to hearing from Dr Pronk and gaining insights into how we may continue to build our own resilience in the challenging environment of rural health.”

RDAA President Dr Megan Belot, said that Dr Pronk was highly qualified, as well as the co-author of the book The Resilience Shield.

“Dr Pronk’s medical credentials are impressive, holding Bachelors of Exercise Science, Medicine, and Surgery, Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), a Master of Business Administration, and an Associate Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of Medical Administrators (RACMA).

“He is an Early Management of Severe Trauma course instructor, a board member of the Australian Tactical Medical Association, and a former Independent Medical Advisor to the Department of Home Affairs.

“His book presents resilience as a multifactorial, dynamic, and modifiable construct, which we are excited to hear about.”