International award-winner in the Hunter
Hunter New England Director of Medical Professional Development Professor Kichu Nair has claimed the prestigious ANZAME Award for excellence in medical education.
The ANZAME Award recognises professional excellence or outstanding achievement in the field of health professional education for work carried out in Australasia and New Zealand.
The fact that his peers in the field of medical education oversee the ANZAME Award gave Professor Nair more satisfaction than anything else.
“The most important thing for me is that I have been recognised by my peers. It is nice to know that the people who understand what you do best, really appreciate it.
“This award is essentially for commitment to medical education and reward for hard work,” Professor Nair said.
Professor Nair has been contributing to the professional training programs, including the Hunter New England Health Centre for Medical Professional Development, for the past 22 years.
“Hunter New England Health is the only area health service in the state that has implemented a training and development program like this one. The area health service has been very supportive of me and what I do,” Professor Nair said.
This award is the highest recognition available for medical education across Australasia and New Zealand and can go to any number of recipients each year, but went to just two people in 2007.
“I am very passionate about health education. It may be time consuming and resource intensive but it is so important to keep educating young health professionals.
“If you do not take the time out from what you are doing to teach others what you know, you can not expect future generations to inherit your knowledge.
“I am getting more and more passionate about health education because it is important we don’t ignore the expertise of those in junior medical positions,” Professor Nair said.
As a senior examiner on the Australian Medical Council and a member of Australia’s highest education committees, Professor Nair is also shaping the future of medical education in Australia.
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