The World Of General Practice Comes To Melbourne

Main Category: Primary Care / General Practice
Also Included In: Conferences
Article Date: 29 Sep 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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The contribution that general practice, with an international flavour, makes to our health system will be in the spotlight this week at the combined Wonca Asia Pacific Regional Conference/ The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) Annual Scientific Convention 2008.

The convention is being held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre and runs from Thursday 2 October to Sunday 5 October. A full conference program is available on the RACGP website http://www.wonca2008.com.

More than 1200 family doctors and general practitioners from across Australia and the world are expected to attend. The conference will highlight the contribution made to our health by general practice and family medicine, focusing on new advances in treatment and care and research.

"This convention represents a perfect opportunity to experience a truly global view of general practice and to honour our achievements, advances and accomplishments in high-quality general practice with a focus on delivering the best care for all our patients," said Dr Vasantha Preetham, outgoing RACGP President and Wonca/RACGP ASC 2008 Co-Convenor.

"General practice is a truly international discipline. Hosting a Wonca conference in Australia reflects on our contribution to medicine, particularly in the Asia Pacific, and reinforces the links between Australian GPs and our colleagues across the world who, despite practising in very different locations, meet very familiar challenges in their daily work," said Professor Michael Kidd Wonca/RACGP ASC 2008 Co-Convenor.

"We are very excited to bring the Wonca Asia Pacific conference to Melbourne. This is a fantastic opportunity to work closely with our colleagues at the RACGP on delivering a conference that draws from the broad experience of Australian general practice, while providing a true international perspective. We look forward to the chance to build links with our colleagues from across the Asia Pacific region, and the world," said Dr Donald Li, Regional President, Wonca Asia Pacific Region.

"The RACGP and Wonca look forward to welcoming you to Melbourne," said Dr Li.

Key speakers include:

Dr Mick Adams

Dr Mick Adams is a descendent of the Yadhiagana people of Cape York Peninsula in Queensland. Dr Adams has been working in the health industry for over 30 years. He has worked in both state and the community-controlled health service sector and has been nominated as a representative to advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health issues on national boards and at national and international conferences.

Professor Trisha Greenhalgh

Professor Trisha Greenhalgh is a non-principal GP in north London and Professor of Primary Health Care at University College London, where she has worked since 1986. Her diverse research interests cover innovation in healthcare and service development for chronic disease management. She has published over 90 papers in peer reviewed journals, is the author of 7 academic textbooks, and was awarded the OBE for Services to Medicine in 2001.

Dr Donald Li

Donald Kwok Tung Li is a specialist in Family Medicine in private practice. He was President of the Hong Kong College of Family Physicians, a position he has held from 1998 to 2004. He is the President of Wonca Asia Pacific Region for 2007-2009.

For a full list of the invited speakers, please visit http://www.wonca2008.com/speakers.php

To register for this event, please visit http://www.wonca2008.com/registration.php

About The RACGP

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is responsible for maintaining standards for quality clinical practice, education and training, and research in Australian general practice. The RACGP has the largest general practitioner membership of any medical organisation in Australia and represents the majority of Australia's general practitioners.

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners

About Wonca

The World Organization of National Colleges, Academies and Academic Associations of General Practitioners/Family Physicians - in short World Organization of Family Doctors - represents and acts as an advocate for its constituent members (national colleges, academies or organizations concerned with the academic aspects of general family practice) at an international level where it interacts with world bodies such as the World Health Organization. In all, the total membership of the member organizations of Wonca is over 200,000 general practitioners/family physicians.

World Organization of National Colleges

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