PROFESSIONAL ASSESSMENT: Australian Medical Association representative for the Fraser Coast, Dr Shaun Rudd, says the closure of Howard Medical Clinic highlights problems the region is facing. Robyne Cuerel
RESPECTED Urraween general practitioner Dr Shaun Rudd is stepping away from the presidential spotlight to chair the board of the Australian Medical Association Queensland instead.
The move comes as Brisbane-based thoracic and sleep physician Dr Christopher Zappala steps into the AMAQ president role this week.
Dr Rudd says his new position will allow him to move away from the publicity glare while continuing his efforts to move the association forward.
The association’s membership increased by 5% and was left in a better financial position during his one-year term as president, he said.
His new role as chairman, which is expected to last two years, has a lighter work load which will allow him to increase his clinical work as a GP from two days to four.
However he will be given added behind-the-scenes responsibilities.
“It’s a different position than president,” he said.
“The president is the face of organisation, whereas being a chairman you take on some responsibility for running the organisation along with the chief executive officer.”
While Dr Rudd was modest about the targets achieved throughout his presidency, he said he was proud of the measures put into place by the association to better the health outcomes for Queenslanders over the next five years.
“We have certainly put the obesity epidemic on the front page,” he said.
“It’s an issue that’s close to my heart and I was eager to see it addressed in a meaningful way.”
The first chapter of AMAQ’s Health Vision report was released in April this year and included calls for publicly funded weight loss surgery in the direst cases and for subsidised fruit and vegetables.
“Extremely obese people create long-term, huge costs for the healthcare system,” he said.
“The fatter they are, the greater the risk of diabetes, heart attacks, strokes, some cancers and joint damage.”
Dr Rudd said he is expected to attend eight board meetings a year as chairman and will “continue to move the organisation forward with health vision and strategic plans”.
While incoming president Dr Zappala said his attention is focused on the public hospital system, Dr Rudd is confident the new president will continue on his work.
Dr Zappala said he was concerned about staff morale and ensuring the public hospital system “doesn’t get bogged down in cost-shifting and penny-pinching”.
“I see many of my colleagues swamped by archaic paperwork and red-tape, or frustrated by out-dated hospital computer systems or onerous government administrative requirements,” he said.
“Having a cohesive direction would help stop our doctors from burning out, getting disillusioned and disengaging.”