Dr Magdalena Simonis

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Personal Statement

I’m a dedicated full-time GP of 30 years with a deep and diverse involvement across many sectors of the RACGP and an array of community organisations. My strength and efficacy stem from my passion for health and my pride in being a general practitioner.

For the past 20 years, I have taken the role of the GP outside of the consultation room, advocating for the role of the GP whilst building relationships with stakeholders, government and policymakers and have co-designed their health initiatives. These have forged mutually beneficial relationships.

I have promoted the RACGP to national and international audiences and have steered and authored RACGP guidelines whilst conducting research, producing education modules, completing a full time online Masters in Health and Human Services and working full time in general practice, doing the work I love.

The time has come to focus the full strength of my leadership skills towards serving the RACGP and its members. Together we can get to the heart of issues within the health system and work with others to develop workable and lasting solutions.

My strength and efficacy stem from my passion for health and my pride in being a general practitioner.

Board Positions and Directorships

  • President, Victorian Medical Women’s Society

  • Founding Member, Victorian Primary Care Practice-based Research Network (VicReN), University of Melbourne

  • Board Member, Women’s Health Victoria

  • Board Member, National Hearing Health Advisory Panel

  • Chair, RACGP Women in General Practice (WIGP)

  • Co-Chair, Scientific and Research Subcommittee, Medical Women’s International Association

  • National Coordinator, Australian Federation of Medical Women

  • Strategy and Policy Advisory Board, Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA)

  • Advisory Board, Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority (VARTA)

  • Steering Committee, RANZCOG Endometriosis Online Learning Resources (EOLRSC)

  • Victorian General Practice Network, Australian Medical Association (AMA)

Employment

  • General Practitioner
  • RACGP Examiner
  • GP Trainer, Sustainable Primary Care Family Violence Model Project

Qualifications

  • Masters of Health and Human Services, University of Melbourne, 2020
  • Advanced Certificate of Implementation Science, University of Melbourne, 2019
  • Advanced Certificate in Service Navigation, University of Melbourne, 2018
  • Fellow Royal Australian College General Practitioners, 1993
  • Diploma of Obstetrics Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, 1991
  • Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) University of Melbourne, Faculty of Medicine, 1986

Service to the RACGP and GP Profession

 

  • Founding Member, RACGPHealth Informatics Special Interest Group
  • RACGP White Book (Domestic and Family Violence) Expert Advisory Group, clinical expert
  • Primary Health Care 10-Year Plan Roundtable LGBTI
  • RACGP Endorsed representative expert working group which convenes to provide advice to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) on matters relating to breast implant devices (TRIM)
  • RANZCOG Endometriosis Online Learning Resources Steering Committee (EOLRSC), in line with the Government’s National Action Plan on Endometriosis
  • RACGP endorsed representative on The Sustainable Primary Care Family Violence Model Advisory Committee, which includes with The University of Melbourne and Victorian Primary Health Networks
  • Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare, National Health Reform reference group member, providing expert advice from primary care perspective to the Transvaginal Mesh reference group, click here to view
  • RACGP endorsed representative to the National Framework for Gynaecological Cancer Control
  • RACGP endorsed representative to liaise with Department of Health and Human Services Victoria on improving access to reproductive health services
  • RACGP endorsed representative to Australian Senate enquiry on the National Cancer Screening Register Bill 2016 and National Cancer Screening Register
  • RACGP Red Book reviewer, Women’s Health chapter
  • Authored the RACGP Female Genital Cosmetic Surgery resource for general practitioners and other health professionals. A world first and received worldwide media attention for its relevance to primary care and women’s health
  • Expert Committee RACGP Quality Care
  • Expert Committee RACGP e-Health
  • Electronic Medication Profile Working Group, collaborating with Australian Digital Health Agency (formerly National Electronic Health Transition Authority)
  • Australian Digital Health Agency (formerly National Electronic Health Transition Authority) GP liaison

Appointments

Academic

  • Senior Honorary Clinical Research Fellow, Department of General Practice, University of Melbourne
  • Medical Student Teaching, University of Melbourne, Melbourne Medical School

Clinical

  • Shared Antenatal Care, Royal Women’s Hospital, Monash Medical Centre, Mercy & Werribee Hospitals, 1991 – current
  • RACGP White Book Expert Advisory Group. The guide for GPs on Domestic and Family Violence, 2020
  • RANZCOG – Endometriosis Online Learning Resources Steering Committee (EOLRSC), 2018-2020
  • The Sustainable Primary Care Family Violence Model Advisory Committee, 2018
  • GP Facilitator on the Sustainable Primary Care Family Violence Model Project, 2018
  • Northern Hospital (formerly Preston and Northcote Community Hospital) and Western Hospital, 1987-1995

Other

  • Frontiers Editorial Board
  • SPHERE NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence, COVID-19 coalition
  • Signpost Steering Committee, involved in the development of a tailored integrated supportive intervention for women with metastatic breast cancer, a joint project between Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute and University of Melbourne
  • Drinkwise National Ambassador
  • Editorial Committee, Leading Issues Journal, Australian Centre for Leadership for Women
  • The Greek Conference Group Organising Committee: collaborations and challenges faced in the fields of medicine, law and science. Funds raised donated to Murdoch Research Institute for Thalassaemia

Awards

2013

  • General Practice and Primary Health Care Academic Centre Award, for Excellent Contribution to Student Research by a Primary Care Practitioner.

 

  • Women’s Health Victoria, named ‘Take a Stand champion’, for the successful promotion of the Take A Stand programme, for the primary prevention of violence against women.

Memberships

Volunteering

  • Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
  • Australian Menopause Society
  • Australian Medical Association
  • Health Informatics Society Australasia
  • Australasian HIV and Sexual Health Association
  • Sexual Health Society of Victoria

Languages Spoken

  • English
  • Greek
  • German
  • Cabrini Asylum Seeker and Refugee Health Hub
  • Australian Greek Welfare Society
  • Victorian Medical Women’s Society
  • Melbourne Baroque Orchestra (Founding Patron)
  • Women’s Health Victoria
  • Australian Federation of Medical Women