RURAL and remote Australians are being urged to nominate a local doctor who has gone ‘above and beyond’ in helping their patients, communities or colleagues, for the Rural Doctors Association of Australia’s (RDAA) Rural Doctor of the Year Award 2022.

“There are hundreds of rural and remote doctors across Australia who are incredibly dedicated to their patients, communities and colleagues, and regularly go the extra mile to help them,” RDAA president, Dr Megan Belot said.

“Our annual award aims to recognise a doctor who has gone above and beyond the call in serving their community, advancing the provision of rural healthcare more broadly, or advancing the profession of rural healthcare.

“Many have also devoted much of their free time to represent the rural health sector at the highest levels of government, to fight for better access to healthcare for rural patients and to keep rural hospitals open.

“We strongly encourage rural patients, rural communities, health colleagues and others to nominate a deserving rural doctor for this prestigious award.

“While there can only be one recipient of the award, all those who are shortlisted as finalists will be recognised on our national website.”

The winner will be formally announced at the gala awards dinner of the Rural Medicine Australia 2022 conference, to be held in Canberra in October.

Entries for the award close at midnight on Thursday, June 30.

Each year, RDAA and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) offer a range of awards in the lead-up to the Rural Medicine Australia conference

RDAA’s awards can be found at rdaa.com.au/resources/awards-bursaries while ACRRM’s awards can be found at bit.ly/3xpzUvZ