20 | THE QUARTERLY Q1 2023 21 Get Published in TheQuarterly The Quarterly Wants Your Articles! If you are working on a piece you would like published, or if you have any ideas for stories and/or articles, we want to hear from you. Please phone +61 3 9824 4699 or email enquiries to quarterly@racma.edu.au Key College Leader Q&A What drew you to pursue the path of medical leadership/ Medical Administration? It has always been my passion to make a difference for the people I serve, and Medical Administration was the choice I believed that would make the biggest impact. What led you to undertake the Fellowship training program of RACMA? Prior to moving to Australia, I had commenced a career in medical administration and had completed my masters and when the decision was made to relocate RACMA was it. What attracted you to take up your role as Jurisdictional Co-ordinator of Training? How important do you see the role of Jurisdictional Co-ordinator of Training? The training experience is tough, and I managed to get through it because of my mentors and the seniors I worked with. I began with supporting the education program for NSW and developed an interest in this role. Do you have any changes/activities/support you would like to implement for the JCT role? It is important to listen to the candidates and not only the feedback of the program but also the training posts are pivotal. I would like to improve and act on the feedback provided. How important is it for members of Colleges like RACMA to be actively involved through various roles like yours on committees etc? It is key for the future of RACMA to ensure that diversity, currency and knowledge of the cold face to be represented. How would you describe the importance of qualified Medical Administrators/Fellows/Members of RACMA to the Australasian health care system? It is essential, however the key positions federally or by state does not have sufficient representation by Fellows. It is important to advocate our positions and aim to take up positions when opportunities present. What are the challenges you can see that RACMA, and the field of medical administration in general, will face in the future? Identify, expertise, creating a niche and being advocates for the future of healthcare. Key College Leader Q&A What drew you to pursue the path of medical leadership/ Medical Administration? A gradually dawning understanding that I could make more of a difference as aMedical Administrator than as an individual Clinician, especially when it came to health outcomes. What led you to undertake the Fellowship training program of RACMA? Some good mentors. Paul Scown and Trevor Wood were an important part of this. What attracted you to take up your role as Jurisdictional Co-ordinator of Training? How important do you see the role of Jurisdictional Co-ordinator of Training? Really an extension of my role as a supervisor. I got involved in setting up the QLD/NT Candidate workshop, and it has developed from there. The JCT/ DJCT roles have a critical role in providing oversight of training provided to candidates in a jurisdiction, and act as a resource to both candidates and supervisors. Do you have any changes/activities/support you would like to implement for the JCT role? I think it’s all about establishing and maintaining a strong network for candidates within a jurisdiction. This needs to include pastoral and wellbeing support for candidates. How important is it for members of Colleges like RACMA to be actively involved through various roles like yours on committees etc? Very important. To me, this is about shaping the next generation of medical leaders, which is critical for our healthcare system. How would you describe the importance of qualified Medical Administrators/Fellows/Members of RACMA to the Australasian health care system? Absolutely critical. Medical administration requires a range of skills, knowledge and attributes that need to be learnt. Healthcare is a complex beast (and getting even more complex) – no longer a place for enthusiastic amateurs. What are the challenges you can see that RACMA, and the field of medical administration in general, will face in the future? Apart from the overall challenges affecting the healthcare system (such as ageing of the population, technology, resources etc etc), there are a number of specific challenges affecting RACMA. These include understanding the relationship with clinician managers (and how we might train/ mentor etc), understanding that we are a broad church and need to embrace what this means, and remember the need to market our skills effectively to health systems and employers. Dr Kashmira De Silva MBBS MHA FACHSE FRACMA Director Medical Services, Nepean Hospital, NSW - NSWHealth Associate Professor John Hodge MBBS GradDipOccMed MHA MAvMed FRACMA FACTM FACAsM Director Medical Service - Workforce Townsville University Hospital
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