New GESA president ready to give back

Medicopolitical

By Mardi Chapman

5 Sep 2017

GESA president Narci Teoh

GESA president Narci Teoh

The new president of GESA is looking forward to the ongoing challenge of ensuing all Australians have equitable access to ‘life-changing therapies’ and the tests and procedures needed to prevent disease.

Professor Narci Teoh, from the Australian National University, told the limbic the profession was already delivering sophisticated services and amazing research.

“Our challenge is really to ensure that every Australian has equitable access to quality, evidence-based care no matter who they are or where they live.”

“At the end of the day that will guide how I lead GESA and I believe I have a Board that also has those aspirations.”

Professor Teoh, who specialises in liver diseases, said GESA initiatives such as the colonoscopy recertification program enabled members to continue advancing their skills while ensuring quality of care.

“Colonoscopy needs to be safe, performed properly and appropriately,” she said.

“The launch of new MBS item numbers is also building in some checks and balances as to appropriate indications for colonoscopy, its frequency and appropriate intervals to minimise excessive colonoscopy in some individuals. This will free up time and resources for the people who need them.”

Professor Teoh said GESA was also doing its very best to support researchers in a ‘savage’ funding environment that was ‘haemorrhaging’ research talent.

She said success rates for NHMRC funding in gastroenterology and hepatology were about 12% compared to 17% across all disciplines.

 “The most threatened group of researchers is the early to mid career researchers who might have had success with initial funding and need something to bridge them through to the established phase. The squeeze is terrible there.”

“In the current climate of funding we need to ensure we have enough experienced researchers to supervise and train the young ones coming through.”

GESA has established ‘Near-miss’ NHMRC Project Grants as well as seed and collaborative grants in response to the NHMRC’s funding restructure.

Professor Teoh said her early interactions with GESA as a young clinician-researcher were encouraging and she looked forward to giving back to the Society.

“The Society has also given me a lot in my training. I started off presenting my first poster and won a little prize, then won a Young Investigator Award. Getting involved in various committees opened my eyes to such a diverse and interesting discipline.”

She said her approach would be inclusive – fostering engagement with young clinical trainees and researchers and drawing on the wisdom of more established colleagues.

“I’ve been very, very lucky to have had really superb mentors whose input and guidance in my personal and professional development allow me the opportunity I now have to give back.”

“I like to think I’m culturally sensitive and as the second woman to lead the society in GESA’s 58 years, I hope to be able to open conversations around equity and diversity. It hasn’t been ignored in the past but needs to be championed.”

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