GP Synergy Awards 2021 – Murrumbidgee & ACT

Murrumbidgee & ACT Supervisor of the Year – Dr Gracy Gouda
Dr Gracy Gouda is a GP supervisor at Trinity Medical Centre in Wagga Wagga. As a long-term GP supervisor, Gracy has supported many registrars through their training. She is considered approachable, proficient and highly committed to GP training with registrars noting she conducts teaching sessions every week, prioritising them over other pressing commitments. Registrar feedback include Gracy's clinical expertise and willingness to pass on that expertise to registrars: "Dr Gouda has an exceptional knowledge of skin cancer medicine and dermoscopy, as well as surgical management". Registrars also consider Gracy's teaching and clinical style to be to very thorough and that she is a wonderful role model.

Murrumbidgee & ACT Registrar of the Year – Dr Seren Ovington
Dr Seren Ovington is undertaking an academic term with the Australian National University - Academic Unit of General Practice and her GPT3 term at Hughes Family Practice in the ACT. As part of Seren's research project she has undertaken qualitative interviews with GP supervisors around their lived experience of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is considered that her research project will have considerable impact, her focus has been on what can we learn from GPs and how can we support them. As part of her academic post she is also involved in medical student teaching and Seren has enthusiastically contributed, innovated and improved many GP teaching resources. Feedback from students has reflected the quality of her teaching and she has inspired many students to consider general practice. Seren has also contributed to junior doctor training by being an assessor of the Canberra Hospital Prevocational Training program when it underwent its accreditation this year. She was an insightful and mature contributor to the process who was very focused on the wellbeing of junior doctors and its impact on patient care. Her input will make a difference to the training of interns and residents in the future.

Murrumbidgee & ACT Practice Manager of the Year – Bernadette Simonsen
Ms Bernadette Simonsen is the practice manager at Interchange Health Cooperative Limited in Canberra. After a career change Bernadette became a practice manager in 2017. She is committed to the mission of Interchange - comprehensive care for underserved populations - believing that while it can be challenging and complex it can also be rewarding to provide better health outcomes to those who are often left behind. In addition to coordinating GP training at the practice, Bernadette seeks out additional educational opportunities for registrars including on hepatitis management and advanced care planning. She works tirelessly for the the practice and its community including working with ACT Health to improve drug and alcohol education amongst health professionals in the ACT, arranging ongoing care for ex-detainees of the Alexander Maconochie Centre, organised delivery of COVID-19 vaccinations to the homeless at the Early Morning Centre, and assisted in arranging home delivery of methadone to those in quarantine with Directions ACT.