A Night for the Profession

A Night for the Profession

A Night for the Profession was a special celebration for medical professionals and health sector colleagues, and an evening to raise funds for some well deserving charities.

AFTER A BRIEF COVID hiatus, AMA (NSW) held the hotly anticipated ‘A Night for the Profession’ on 21 October at the Sheraton Grand in Sydney Hyde Park. 

More than 150 well-heeled guests attended the black-tie event to raise money for the AMA (NSW) Charitable Foundation in support of three exceptional charities.

In addition to championing the work of these organisations, the event was an opportunity for medical professionals to get together and acknowledge the challenges of working in healthcare during COVID-19.

Celebrated Australian author, journalist, and television and radio presenter, and the evening emcee, Indira Naidoo, acknowledged the rollercoaster of anxiety, stress, fear and fatigue that doctors experienced throughout the pandemic. 

Given the experiences of the last two years, A Night for the Profession held even more significance, as colleagues reconnected and relaxed over drinks, dinner, and dancing.

The event was also made special by the opportunity to raise funds for the AMA (NSW) Charitable Foundation, which was established in 1995 to harness the goodwill and charitable spirit of the medical profession. It has a commitment to addressing the physical, social, and emotional needs of all Australians, particularly those disadvantaged in our society. Since its inception, the Foundation has donated more than $1m to many organisations, including the Fred Hollows Foundation, Bear Cottage, Royal Flying Doctor Service, the Luke Batty Foundation, among others.

This year, the AMA (NSW) Charitable Foundation chose to raise funds for three very deserving charities, including:

• The Torie Finnane Foundation for women, which strives to improve maternity services in regional New South Wales through the provision of professional development opportunities and by assisting with the purchase of equipment;
• Bravehearts, which provides a coordinated and holistic approach to the prevention and treatment of child sexual abuse; and
• The Medical Benevolent Association of NSW, which provides counselling and short-term financial assistance for doctors and their families through times of crisis, illness, accident, mental health conditions, grief and loss of income.

President’s Awards

The evening was also an opportunity for past Presidents, Dr Kean-Seng Lim and Dr Danielle McMullen to present a President’s Award to two members of the profession that have been outstanding, both as clinicians and in terms of their contribution to the profession and the health system.

Dr Kim Loo

Dr Lim recognised Dr Kim Loo for her commitment to tackling climate change. Dr Loo is a general practitioner at Riverstone Family Medical Practice, AMA (NSW) Councillor, and the NSW Chair of Doctors for the Environment.As Dr Lim remarked, many people talk about climate change, but Dr Loo lives and breathes her pledge to create a healthy environment. 

Dr Loo strongly believes that the environmental determinants of health are clean air, clean water, healthy soils, a safe climate, and a healthy ecosystem. In her advocacy, Dr Loo also highlights that depending on where you live – the impacts of climate change can be more acute, with society’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged often the worst affected by the developing environmental crisis.

As a medical practitioner working in Blacktown, she is very aware that many of her own patients will be among the hardest hit by climbing temperatures. Residents in lower socio-economic areas of Sydney are least able to afford to retrofit their homes in way that improves energy efficiency and safeguards their health. 

Her interest in housing as a key component of good health has led her to become a spokesperson for Better Homes for Renters. She is also the medical spokesperson for the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils and plays an active role in helping them to establish their heat adaptation plan, which will set the foundation for improved heat resiliency.

Dr Loo is also a leading figure in Healthy Futures, a network of health professionals, students and supporters who organise collective action to reduce pollution and protect health.

Dr Penny Browne

Immediate Past President, Dr Danielle McMullen followed up with the presentation of a second President’s Award, which she awarded to Dr Penny Browne.

Dr Browne has been a GP for more than three decades, a GP supervisor, and a senior staff specialist at the Hornsby-Brooklyn GP Unit and Bungee Bidgel Aboriginal Health Clinic. 

She is passionate about GP education and encouraging the next general of GPs. She has taught and mentored hundreds of registrars, JMOs, and students and was awarded the RACGP NSW GP Supervisor of the Year in 2018.

Dr Browne’s interest in health law led her to working with Avant Mutual, where she has been the inaugural chief medical officer for more than seven years. During her time with Avant, she introduced a registrar training role, which has created an opportunity to nurture future medical leaders with an understanding in health law.

She also established the Avant Advocacy, Education and Research Division and drove messaging regarding the impact of complaints and claims on doctors’ health to medical regulators.

She is committed to doctors’ health, protecting the workforce and patient safety. Dr Browne also played an integral role during the pandemic. She led Avant Mutual advocacy throughout COVID-19, bringing stakeholders together to share knowledge and drive policy cohesion and support for the profession in a rapidly changing environment.  

She established the Avant Foundation which provides funding for doctor-led projects and research in quality, safety, and professionalism in medicine. Dr Browne received the Quality and Safety in Medicine Award from Avant in 2022.

Her expertise as a clinician, and her knowledge of the health system, public affairs advocacy, health law, executive management and governance have been fundamental in supporting and protecting general practice both now and in the future. 

Thank you to all attendees for the memorable evening and special thanks to our major sponsor, Cutcher & Neale Accounting and Financial Services, as well as our general sponsors Doctors Health Fund, Lipman Burgon and Partners, and AMA Wealth Planning.