The search is on for the association’s 27th president.
It’s election season in all corners of Australia this year, with AMA members set to head to the polls in late July to elect a new president, vice-president and federal council members.
Incumbent president Dr Omar Khorshid, a Perth-based orthopaedic surgeon, stepped into the role in late 2020 with ambitions to reaffirm the AMA as a strong, independent voice for health which holds governments to account.
Dr Khorshid was the association’s 26th president, having been preceded by GP Dr Tony Bartone.
Other notable doctors to have held the position include GP and former councillor and representative for Wentworth Professor Kerryn Phelps and children’s charity founder Dr Bruce Shepherd.
Adelaide GP Dr Chris Moy currently holds the title of vice-president – it’s unclear yet whether he intends to throw his hat in the ring for president this time around.
Exactly who is in the running will remain a mystery for some time, as nominations for president and vice-president open on 17 June and close at noon on 15 July.
The election itself is set to take place at the AMA National Conference in Sydney, which is held from 29 to 31 July.
For those eager to exercise their democracy muscles, nominations for the election of AMA members to federal council are open from now until 6 May.
There are three categories: practice groups (GPs, private specialist practice, public hospital doctors, doctors in training and rural doctors), specialty groups (anaesthetists, dermatologists, emergency physicians, obstetrician-gynaecologists, ophthalmologists, orthopaedic surgeons, paediatricians, pathologists, physicians, psychiatrists, radiologists and surgeons) and ordinary members (any doctor in any specialty, craft group or career stage).
Last election, the AMA mentioned it had adopted a target of 40% women, 40% men, and 20% flexible for all AMA councils, committees and boards, with a gender diversity target of women holding 50% of federal AMA representative positions overall.
Nominations for a range of awards including Excellence in Health Care, Women in Medical Leadership and Diversity in Medicine are also open now, closing on 17 June.
The RACGP is also electing a new leader this year.
