Prof Michael Kidd Appointed Australia's Chief Medical Officer
Professor Michael Kidd Appointed Australia's Chief Medical Officer
WONCA is delighted to celebrate the appointment of Professor Michael Kidd as Australia's Chief Medical Officer, marking a historic milestone as the first General Practitioner (GP) to hold this prestigious role. His appointment will commence on 1st June.
Professor Kidd served as WONCA President from 2013 to 2016. As our President, he championed the need for "a Family Doctor for every family". This initiative underscored the critical role of family doctors in providing comprehensive, continuous, and compassionate care to individuals and communities worldwide. His advocacy emphasised the importance of accessible Primary Care and the need for strong, well-supported family medicine systems globally.
Read Michael's final reflections as WONCA President from October 2016 here.
Professor Kidd's journey is a testament to his unwavering dedication to primary care and public health. He has also served as the President of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and during the COVID-19 pandemic was Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Australia. In that role, he played a key role in the nation's primary care response, including the rapid implementation of telehealth services.
His contributions to medical education, community health, and primary care have been in numerous settings, and earning him the title of Officer of the Order of Australia (AO), in 2023, for his distinguished service to the country.
He has been a staunch advocate for the importance of general practice / family medicine in maintaining the health and wellbeing of communities, emphasising the critical role of family doctors in the healthcare system. His work in HIV/AIDS care and his commitment to improving health outcomes for marginalized communities highlight his dedication to inclusive and compassionate healthcare.
Professor Michael Kidd is Professor of Global Primary Care and Future Health Systems at the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences (NDPCHS), in the University of Oxford. His work at Oxford focuses on global primary care and the development of future health systems, appropriately leveraging his extensive experience. He is also the inaugural Director of the Centre for Future Health Systems at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney, Australia. This joint appointment allows him to work on initiatives that promote sustainable and equitable healthcare systems globally.
Australia is lucky - in his new role as Chief Medical Officer, Professor Kidd will bring his vast experience and visionary leadership to the forefront of Australia's healthcare system. His appointment is certain to strengthen Australia's healthcare system and ensuring that it remains responsive to the needs of all Australians.
WONCA extends our heartfelt congratulations to Professor Michael Kidd on this well-deserved appointment.
We look forward to the positive impact he will undoubtedly make in his new role.
Karen Flegg
WONCA President
On behalf of all WONCA colleagues.