GP Synergy Awards 2021 – Western NSW
Western NSW Supervisor of the Year – Dr Nisha Padmanabhan Nair
Dr Nisha Padmanabhan Nair is a relatively new supervisor based at Coonamble Aboriginal Health Service, as a former registrar who herself undertook part of her training in Coonamble she is familiar with both the community and the challenges of being a rural GP in training. Feedback indicates that Nisha goes above and beyond for the registrars she supervises, whether in teaching, ensuring that the registrars become an integral part of the practice team, or making sure that cultural mentoring is a priority in registrars' learning processes. In leading by example Nisha encourages registrars to be fully committed to the practice and to be proactive in contributing their own knowledge and experience. Nisha is also happy to assist registrars across Western NSW through her participation in webinars to support them as they transition to rural GP training.
Western NSW Registrar of the Year – Dr Samantha Dingwall
Dr Samantha Dingwall is a recent fellow, having completed her training in late 2021. During her training Samantha demonstrated exceptional performance and commitment to general practice. Samantha achieved the highest overall FRACGP exam result within the Western NSW subregion in 2021. She completed her training in the communities of Orange and Molong, with the last two years of her training in Molong. She has exhibited dedication and commitment to the provision of general practice services to the community of Molong and was noted for her excellent clinical skills and knowledge, professionalism, high work ethic and exceptional patient care.
Western NSW Practice Manager of the Year – Veronica Barnden
Ms Veronica Barnden is practice manager at Nachiappans in Broken Hill, the practice has been an accredited training practice for many years, supporting registrars as they experience working as a GP in far western NSW. Registrars training at the practice are grateful for not just the training support they receive from Veronica but also the assistance they receive in moving to a new location and settling in as smoothly as possible so that their training and wellbeing have not been compromised. In the words of one registrar: "My only wish is for all other registrars to have such a dedicated and empathetic practice manager such as Veronica Barnden".