Our Dr Ross Wilson named 'Australian GP of the Year'

BATHURST general practitioner Dr Ross Wilson has been named "Australian GP of the Year” at the annual national conference of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) at Hobart., With approximately 22,000 GPs in Australia, the award recognises Dr Wilson as the finest in his profession., At the conference, Dr Wilson's high standard of patient care, his dedication to training and his high level of community involvement were recognised., He works as a medical educator, overseeing GP registrars, and is currently the GP liaison officer between GPs and Mid Western Area Health Service for medical matters. , On top of these duties, Dr Wilson also serves as a GP locum in other practices so that other doctors can take a break and not leave their communities without a GP. , Dr Wilson was nominated for the award by staff at his George Street practice., He said he first heard he had received the award a week before the official ceremony., "I felt uncomfortable, but humbled. It's not something I would expect to receive,” Dr Wilson said., Along with the award, he was also given a $5000 academic scholarship for further studies., Dr Wilson is currently completing studies in obstetrics and obstetric anaesthetics., He said he may put the money towards building on these studies., "If there is a way that I can donate it tastefully and tactfully I may even do that,” he said., Dr Wilson has worked in Bathurst since 1988 and in this time has established firm relationships with residents and volunteered much of his time to community events and locum positions., Central West Division of General Practice vice chairman Dr John Sandra said Dr Wilson represents everything that a country doctor is about., "He puts in so much behind-the- scenes effort into the enhancement of rural practice and he deserves any recognition he gets,” Dr Sandra said., Dr Wilson, however, is modest in receiving the prestigious award., "I think every GP, especially those in rural areas, deserves this award,” Dr Wilson said., "It is a profession that I think is greatly underrated.”