Junior Doctor of the Year and Clinical Educator of the Year Awards

The Confederation of Postgraduate Medical Education Councils (CPMEC) acknowledge junior doctors and clinical educators across Australia and New Zealand for their major contribution to prevocational medical education and training annually. Throughout the last 12 months we have seen a remarkable number of Trainee Medical Officers and Educators use creativity, innovation, and tenacity to enhance prevocational medical education and training.

Using a two-tiered selection process, jurisdictional winners are selected for each award and from this group an overall Trans-Tasman winner will be announced. We would also like to acknowledge and thank the following nominees for their significant accomplishments in medical education and training.

2023 South Australian Junior Doctor of the Year

Dr Harry Gaffney

Dr Gaffney has significantly contributed to education and training in the Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN) and the wider community through project work, publications, and speaking at several conferences and podcasts. He has even had time to write and publish a children’s book to inspire children to understand how their body works. Dr Gaffney is passionate about education and training and advocates for rural healthcare junior doctors Australia-wide by liaising with the Australian Medical Council (AMC) on how to improve the rural health workforce and rural patient health outcomes.

2023 South Australian Clinical Educator of the Year

Dr Hamish Eske

Dr Hamish Eske has contributed to the education of junior doctors substantially and improved education and training opportunities in rural and remote locations. Dr Eske is an extremely in demand rural clinician with extraordinary demands on his time, however he has made medical education of PGY1 and PGY2 doctors a priority by taking on the Director of Clinical Training (DCT) role with the Riverland Academy of Clinical Excellence (RACE) in the Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network (RMCLHN). He is a role model of excellence in rural medical practice and his investment in JMO education and professional development is appreciated by the junior doctor cohort.

2023 Nominees

We would also like to recognise the following 2023 nominees for their ongoing contributions to medical education and training:

• Dr Joshua Kovoor (CALHN) nominee for Junior Doctor of the Year
• Dr Vienna Tran (LCLHN) nominee for Junior Doctor of the Year
• Dr Vaishali Padhye (SALHN) nominee for Clinical Educator of the Year

Past winners

Dr Jerida Burgess 2022 South Australian Junior Doctor of the Year Dr Burgess is recognised for “significant contributions to the education and training of junior doctors in RACE” the Riverland Academy of Clinical Excellence pathway within the RMCLHN.	Dr Niloofar Safaie Yazdi, NALHN 2022 South Australian Clinical Educator of the Year Dr Safaie Yazdi is “incredibly focused on junior doctor welfare and has worked with the Executive Director of Medical Service to improve facilities for junior doctors, provide welfare support and reduce fatigue”.
Dr Shihab Siddiquee 2021 South Australian Junior Doctor of the Year An Anatomical Pathology Trainee at CALHN and has made significant contributions within medical education and training throughout his PGY1 and PGY2 years, and is an advocate for TMO education and welfare. Dr Siddiquee has participated and prepared medical student and Intern tutorials, bedside teaching, lectures, and workshops while publishing several peer-reviewed papers.	Dr Samuel Gluck 2021 South Australian Clinical Educator of the Year Medical Education Registrar at NALHN, Dr Gluck provides exceptional support to the teaching of Trainee Medical Officers, conducting regular informal wellbeing ward round check-ups and leads the development of NALHN Educational videos for flipped classroom teaching. Dr Gluck is approachable, kind-natured, non-judgemental and has a supportive approach.
Dr Andre Tran 2020 South Australian Junior Doctor of the Year Intern at SALHN, Dr Tran has made an outstanding contribution to medical student teaching in the hospital setting and has also been awarded Clinical Associate Lecturer of the year by the Adelaide Simulation Centre.	Dr Jarrod Marks 2020 South Australian Clinical Educator of the Year Medical Education Registrar at NALHN, Dr Marks has had significant and impactful contribution to the teaching of junior doctors at both the Lyell McEwin Hospital and Modbury Hospital. Interns describe Dr Marks teaching as “a very high standard with strong clinical significance presented in an approachable and understandable manner”.

For further information and to view more past winners, visit the CPMEC website.