21 November 2008
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| Associate Professor Ian Pettigrew |
Monash University Associate Professor Ian Pettigrew from the department ofRural Obstetrics and Gynaecology has been named a recipient of the President’s Medal, the highest individual award that can be bestowed by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG).
Associate Professor Pettigrew is attached to the Mildura Regional Clinical School.
He has had a long and outstanding career in medicine. After graduating from the University of Melbourne in 1968, Professor Pettigrew went on to complete obstetrics and gynaecology training in 1977. He practiced in many rural settings in Victoria including Hamilton (1977-1984) and Warrnambool (1984 - 2002).
Associate Professor Pettigrew said it was an honour to receive the award and added that he would continue to pursue his career in regional areas.
"I will go about doing what I have done for the last 30 years. It is a great honour to be given an award by your colleagues for things that you like doing," Professor Pettigrew said.
Associate Professor Pettigrew said he would also continue to campaign for the medical needs of country towns and to try to encourage young doctors to consider a move to regional areas.
"The biggest challenge facing the rural sector is recruitment of medical, nursing and para-medical staff," Associate Professor Pettigrew said.
"The medical workforce is ageing, particularly the obstetrics and gynaecology workforce and there is the same problem with midwives. State and Federal government need to take action to ensure that all students receive high-quality medical education and have postgraduate positions made available."
Associate Professor Pettigrew said rural doctors should be paid at a higher rate as an incentive to get specialists to work in country areas.
"There also needs to be ongoing funding for programs that are developed for continuing professional development," Associate Professor Pettigrew said.
Ian is currently the Chairman of the Board of Examiners for the RANZCOG Diploma, the qualification which is currently recognised for general practitioner obstetrics. Ian actively supports the role of the rural GP obstetrician and as a member of the Specialist Obstetrician Locum Scheme (SOLS) Advisory Group has consistently lobbied for rural GP Obstetricians to be included with the specialists under the SOLS funding. This has been realised with the latest funding contract with the Australian Government.
For more information please contact Samantha Blair, Media and Communications on +61 3 9903 4841 or 0439 013 951.
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