- About DHASWA
- Current Committee
- DHASWA Representatives
- Doctors’ Health
Doctors' Health Advisory Service Western Australia
Background
The Doctors’ Health Advisory Service of Western Australia (DHASWA) became a formal Association in November 2016. It was formerly known as “Colleague of First Contact” which was established as an independent entity in the 1980s and renamed DHASWA in 2011. The main service provided by DHASWA was a 24/7 advice line for doctors and medical students, staffed by a panel of experienced GPs. Since 2016 DHASWA has received funding from the Medical Board of Australia (MBA), to help support and expand its services.
DHASWA is exempt from the Mandatory Reporting requirements of MBA.
Objectives
The purpose of DHASWA is to improve “the health and wellbeing of the medical profession in the public interest for the benefit of the community”. Its main objectives are:
- Providing confidential support to medical practitioners including medical students concerning their personal health problems.
- Promoting health education and training of medical practitioners to the medical profession including the promotion of self-care;
- Promoting the education and training of medical practitioners who treat medical practitioners;
- Promoting the development of resources to assist in the development, implementation and promotion of medical practitioner’s health services.
- Promoting, in the public interest, measures to assist medical practitioners in maintaining their health and wellbeing;
- Promoting a healthy lifestyle and healthy workplace for medical practitioners;
- Working in collaboration with the Medical Benevolent Association WA to meet common goals;
- Establishing and promoting dedicated health networks to support medical practitioners;
- Promoting research into medical practitioners’ health and cooperate with learned colleges, universities and professional medical organisations to meet shared objectives;
- Promoting measures to assist medical practitioners to manage their health and wellbeing, both at work and away from work, including liaison with media, hospital and health services, regulatory authorities, medical defence organisations, learned colleges, universities, professional medical organisations and other training organisations.
Advisory Group
Dr Sarah Newman
Secretary & Assistant Director
Dr Sarah Newman
Secretary & Assistant Director
After graduating with MBBS (Hons) in 2010 from the University of Western Australia, Sarah worked at Royal Perth and Princess Margaret hospitals as a junior doctor for 5 years. She is currently working as a general practice registrar in Lockridge. She has a keen interest in doctor’s welfare and is currently the Co-chair of the AMA WA Doctors in Training Welfare Subcommittee and WAGPET Registrar Liaison Officer for Perth Metropolitan East Region.
Dr Roger Lai (he/him)
Treasurer
Dr Roger Lai (he/him)
Treasurer
Roger is an occupational physician working as a clinician in a variety of settings including in Work Health Safety at Fiona Stanley Hospital. Advising the employer on fitness for work and return to work of unwell medical staff sparked his interest in doctor welfare, particularly in primary and secondary prevention. He has contributed to implementation of doctor well-being initiatives at Royal Perth Hospital that integrate systems and individual approaches to well-being. In his downtime, Roger enjoys analogue activities such as boardgames, although his latest addiction is Wordle.
Dr Helen Wilcox (she/her)
Member & Medical Director
Dr Helen Wilcox (she/her)
Member & Medical Director
Helen is a GP in Shenton Park, with an interest in women’s and children’s health, doctors’ health, and collaborative, evidence-based, compassion-led general practice of all kinds. She is an Associate Professor in the Medical School at UWA, and Director of the MD program. This gives her perspective on the challenges facing medical students and junior doctors, and insight on ways to survive and thrive in the early stages of a medical career. Research interests are across medical education, including leadership, trauma-informed care provision and student wellbeing.
Dr Rosalind Forward
Member
Dr Rosalind Forward
Member
Rosalind graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2014 as a doctor whilst working part-time as a Scientific Officer /Inspector (Ergonomics) at WorkSafe. Having had a background as an Occupational Therapist mainly working in occupational health and safety, Ros hopes to combine her skills in OHS with medicine and is a proud advocate for the health and wellbeing of doctors. Since graduating from Medical school she has been working for NMAHS and is starting GP training.
Dr Angela Alessandri
Member
Dr Angela Alessandri
Member
Angela is a medical graduate from the University of Western Australia and trained in paediatrics before subspecialising in paediatric haematology/oncology/stem cell transplantation. After over 25 years as a clinician largely at Princess Margaret Hospital, Angela has recently resigned from her position in the Haematology/Oncology Department. She is continuing as the Associate Professor, Professionalism and Clinical Governance, in the School of Medicine at Notre Dame University where she relishes the opportunity to positively influence the next generation of medical professionals. She is passionate about exploring ways to improve doctors’ health and the medical system and is looking forward to the ongoing evolution of her career.
Professor Geoff Riley (he/him)
Patron
Geoff is a Psychiatrist and former country GP who is well known in WA for his interest in doctor’s Health. He helped established 'Colleague of First Contact' and has written numerous articles on doctor’s health issues. Professor Riley is former Professor and Head of Psychiatry at UWA and Director of the Rural Clinical School of WA. He lives in Albany.
Dr Davinder Hans
Psychiatry Advisor
Dr Davinder Hans
Psychiatry Advisor
Davinder graduated in medicine from the University of Western Australia and completed his postgraduate training in Psychiatry in Western Australia. Davinder has done further training in Mood & Anxiety Disorders and Psychotherapy. He is the Clinical Lead of the repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) Service at Hollywood Private Hospital and his Private Practice is based at the Hollywood Medical Centre. In the Public Sector, Davinder works as a Consultant Psychiatrist in a youth crisis intervention and complex comorbidity ADHD service. Davinder has adjunct academic ~appointments at both University of Notre Dame Australia and University of Western Australia.
Dr Rikki Priest
Member
Dr Rikki Priest
Member
Davinder graduated in medicine from the University of Western Australia and completed his postgraduate training in Psychiatry in Western Australia. Davinder has done further training in Mood & Anxiety Disorders and Psychotherapy. He is the Clinical Lead of the repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) Service at Hollywood Private Hospital and his Private Practice is based at the Hollywood Medical Centre. In the Public Sector, Davinder works as a Consultant Psychiatrist in a youth crisis intervention and complex comorbidity ADHD service. Davinder has adjunct academic ~appointments at both University of Notre Dame Australia and University of Western Australia.
Special Interest Portfolios
Dr Grace Haynes
Aboriginal Doctors Health
Dr Grace Haynes
Aboriginal Doctors Health
Grace is a proud Kungarakan woman, and mother of two, from the Fitzmaurice region of the Northern Territory who is deeply committed to improving Aboriginal health and wellbeing. She completed her MBBS with a subspecialisation in Aboriginal health at UWA in 2016 and has since worked in both metropolitan and rural locations throughout WA with a specific interest in O&G. Having personally and professionally encountered racism and cultural bias she is well acquainted with the burden this can have on our mental health and therefore aims to provide a culturally safe space to support others facing these challenges.
Dr Sebastian Leathersich (he/him)
LGBTQI+ Doctors Health
Dr Sebastian Leathersich (he/him)
LGBTQI+ Doctors Health
Sebastian graduated from the University of Western Australia in 2014, and has since worked in hospitals throughout Perth and Bunbury. He is an openly gay doctor, and is currently an Advanced Trainee in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at King Edward Memorial Hospital. He is subspecialising in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, and has an interest in transgender health. Throughout his time as a student and junior doctor, Sebastian has been involved in representation and advocacy, and believes that diversity in the workplace strongly benefits patients, staff and the health system.
Dr Ashwita Siri Vanga (she/her)
International Medical Graduate Wellbeing
Dr Ashwita Siri Vanga (she/her)
International Medical Graduate Wellbeing
Ashwita graduated from Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi in 2017 and after completing internship in 2018, moved to Perth. She is a Resident Medical Officer and has constantly worked towards the best interest of International Medical Graduates (IMGs) employed at her workplace as well as those navigating their path in WA. She has always been passionate about voicing concerns of her colleagues and medical students and was the President of Indian Medical Association - Students' Wing (IMA-SW) Delhi Chapter during her third year of undergraduate studies representing 6 medical schools, making her the first female President in the history of IMA-SW. When COVID-19 pandemic started taking heavy toll mid-2020 in India, she joined hands with Aaroogya Foundation and led in the position of Program Head (Community Outreach and Innovation) as part of COVID-19 Taskforce working with medical students in Delhi to spread awareness about coronavirus. Her desire to contribute to IMG wellbeing in WA has motivated her to join hands with DHASWA.
Rahil Ajmera
Medical Student Representative
Rahil Ajmera
Medical Student Representative
Rahil is an undergraduate medicine student, originally from Sydney, who is studying at Curtin University. He has been involved in several organisations such as the Australian Medical Association WA, Australian Medical Students Association and the Curtin Association of Medical Students and has a passion for medical student advocacy. Throughout his time as a medical student, he has been interested in representing his peers and challenging the status quo in order to improve wellbeing. By providing his voice to DHASWA, he hopes to improve health outcomes for his fellow students.
Dr Lewis Mackinnon (he/him)
Senior International Medical Graduate Representative
Dr Lewis Mackinnon (he/him)
Senior International Medical Graduate Representative
Dr Lewis MacKinnon is a Perth-based GP who trained in Scotland. Before moving to Australia in 2015, he provided primary and emergency 24/7 care on the remote and picturesque Scottish island of Islay. In addition to running his GP practice, which he founded six years ago, Dr MacKinnon is involved with the training of GP Registrars and teaching medical students from UWA and Notre Dame, Fremantle and runs a quarterly sexual health meeting for clinicians. He has a national speaker on heart failure and infectious disease and is an S100 prescriber in HIV and HBV Medicine. He is also an active member of the Business of General Practice and Sexual Health special interest groups of the RACGP. He was recognised with the RACGP WA GP of the year award in 2019 and was elected as WA RACGP Faculty Deputy Chair in 2020. He has two kindy-age children who always keep him busy and cheer him up when Perth Glory gets beat, which is often.
Doctors’ Health
There is a growing body of evidence which shows that doctors face unique barriers to accessing health care and often do not have a regular treating doctor, and are at greater risk of mental health issues and substance use problems. The Doctor’s Health Advisory Service Western Australia (DHASWA) is experienced in the unique health needs of doctors, and has important skills in the area of doctor-patient care.
As a group, doctors generally have a greater than average level of physical health than the general population and are less likely so suffer from life-style related illnesses (Australian Medical Association (AMA), 2011). However, doctors also experience a higher level of psychological distress, similar or higher rates of mental illnesses (including depression and anxiety) and a higher likelihood of suicidal ideation than the general population and other professionals (3.4% vs. 2.6% vs. 0.7%, respectively) (Beyondblue, 2013, p2-4).
Research has shown that only 30-40% of doctors have their own general practitioner (Royal Australian College of Physicians (RACP), 2013). Doctors who do not have their own GP are likely to self- diagnose, self-treat and self-prescribe (RACP, 2013) and may seek informal professional input from a colleague, rather than a proper consultation with a treating doctor (RACP, 2013). These practices, as well as failure to connect with other appropriate health professionals or services can lead to poorer health outcomes in this group (Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), 2011).
The reasons for doctors not accessing appropriate health care are varied, and include: concerns of stigma and lack of confidentiality; fear regarding mandatory notification; damage to career progression; embarrassment, and constraints on time and access (AMA, 2011).
It has been suggested that while doctors may struggle to be seen as a ‘patient’, they also have difficulty treating other doctors as patients (RACP, 2013). However, research has shown that doctors who practice healthy lifestyle habits are more likely to effectively teach healthy habits to their patients (AMA, 2011) which may also include other doctors!
It is important that doctors are encouraged to have their own treating doctor, to avoid the pitfalls mentioned above, and doctor-patients need to be treated in the same way as any other patient by their treating medical professional (RACGP, 2016). This allows doctor-patients to feel validated in seeking health care, and ensures that receive all the information they need to be active participants in their care.
There is growing understanding that a specific skill set can be taught to help doctors treat other doctors more effectively (RACP, 2013) and an acknowledgement that professional medical culture needs to support the care of doctor-patients without judgement.
DHASWA is committed to providing patient centred care suitable to doctor-patients, and all DHASWA doctors are experienced in the care of doctor-patients. For more information or to speak to one of our doctors, visit our Contact Us page
REFERENCES
Australian Medical Association (2011) AMA Position Statement on Health and Wellbeing of Doctors and Medical Students – 2011. Retrieved from https://ama.com.au/position-statement/health-and-wellbeing-doctors-and-medical-students-2011
Beyondblue (2013) National Mental Health Survey of Doctors and Medical Students. Retrieved from https://www.beyondblue.org.au/docs/default-source/research-project-files/bl1132-report—nmhdmss-full-report_web
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (2011). Doctors’ Health. Retrieved from http://curriculum.racgp.org.au/statements/doctors-health/
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (2016) D16- Doctors’ health contextual unit. Retrieved from https://www.racgp.org.au/Education/Curriculum/Doctors%E2%80%99-health
Royal Australian College of Physicians (2013) Health of Doctors Position Statement. Retrieved from https://www.racp.edu.au/docs/default-source/advocacy-library/pa-pos-health-of-doctors-2013.pdf