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Directors

General Practice Training - Valley to Coast Limited is a not for profit public company limited by guarantee. It has a board consisting of members nominated from key stakeholder organisations involved in general practice and general practice training together with experienced business and community-minded professionals. The board is representative of the different geographical areas within the region, registrars, supervisors, community, academic and grass roots GPs.

Dr Mark Rikard-Bell

MBBS, DipObs(SA), FRACGP, FACRRM     

Mark graduated from Sydney University in 1978. He spent two years at the Prince of Wales Hospital group in Sydney and then spent a year in South Africa developing skills in Obstetrics and Anaesthetics. Six months in UK followed by 3 months in West Wyalong confirmed his wish to work in rural General Practice. Mark and his wife Del started procedural General Practice in Muswellbrook in 1982 and have been there since - having their 6 daughters and wanting to be involved in sharing their enjoyment of a small town with rewarding work. Mark has been a GP supervisor since the late 1980's.

Appointed by the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM)

Dr Sarah Bayley

BMed, FRACGP

Sarah completed her medical degree at the University of Newcastle and trained for General Practice as a GP registrar under General Practice Training - Valley to Coast. Sarah was the Valley to Coast Registrar Liaison Officer (RLO) for three years. She is now a busy part-time GP and mother of three.
 

Appointed by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)

Professor Dimity Pond

BA(Hons), DipEd, MBBS, DipSocSci, Phd, FRACGP

Dimity is Professor of General Practice in the Faculty of Health at the University of Newcastle and continues to work in part-time general practice. She has extensive experience in undergraduate and postgraduate GP teaching, including time as a GP supervisor. Her research interests include evaluation of teaching and innovative methods of teaching.

Appointed by the University of Newcastle

Dr Michael Swanson

MBBS (Hons), DipObs

Michael graduated from Sydney University in 1980 and then completed his training at Royal Newcastle Hospital. Following this he travelled overseas and gained more experience in London before returning to general practice in Newcastle. Michael has been a GP supervisor for the past 15 years and has recently retired from the HUDGP board after 5 years service.

Appointed by the Hunter Urban Division of General Practice (HUDGP)

Dr Jenny Draper

MBBS, DCH, FRACGP

Jenny is a full-time solo GP in a multi-disciplinary health practice recently established in Wingham NSW. Her interests include chronic disease management, research in general practice, promoting increased acceptance of team-care models in general practice and women's health. She is a mother of three and enjoys horse-riding in her spare time.

Appointed by the Hunter Rural Division of General Practice (HRDGP)

Dr Nicole Avard

BMed, FRACGP

After graduating from Newcastle University and completing her training in Gosford, Nicole travelled overseas, working in London for 12 months. Nicole now works in an integrative medical centre on the Central Coast and has an interest in nutritional medicine and educating students in this area.

Appointed by the Central Coast Division of General Practice (CCDGP)

Dr Philippa Hodgins

MBBS(Hons), DipRACOG, DipPaed, DipACPsychMed, FRACGP

Philippa is a principal in a large group general practice in Newcastle, FRACGP examiner and external clinical teacher. Medical interests include psychological medicine and doctors' health.

Appointed by the National GP Supervisors Association (NGPSA)

Hon David Simmons OAM  

BA, MEd (Hons), FAICD

David began his working life as a teacher, was a member of the Federal Parliament 1993-96 and held several ministerial portfolios from 1989-93. Moving to Newcastle in 1996 he served as the Executive Director of Hunter Tourism and from 1997-2001 was the inaugural CEO of the Hunter Business Chamber. He has previously been the Chair, Bathurst Hospital Board, Chair, Hunter Medical Research Foundation and President, National Heart Foundation (NSW), a Board Member, Tourism NSW and a non-executive director the Regional Land Management Corporation. He is currently a director of a private government relations consulting company.

Dr Belinda Guest

Belinda is a part time Registrar with Valley to Coast has been the Chair for General Practice Registrars Australia (GPRA) since August 2008. She graduated from Newcastle University in 2001 and after completion of intern and resident years spent 2 years working in Paediatrics before deciding that General Practice was to be her vocation. In her spare time she loves staying active, playing Oztag or mountain bike riding with her husband.

Appointed by General Practice Registrars Australia (GPRA)