The prestigious Awards celebrate the substantial contributions made by inspiring individuals to the education and support of Junior Medical Officers across the NSW Health system.

“Starting your first placement as a Junior Medical Officer (JMO) has to be one of the most challenging transitions in life,” said Dr Claire Blizard, Medical Director at HETI.

“Emergency, surgery, oncology, and palliative care are just some of the experiences our Junior Medical Officers face in their first years on the job.

“Providing our Junior Medical Officers with the right kind of training, education and support is essential to their integration into the workforce, their success in these first years, and their ability to provide the best possible patient care,” said Dr Blizard.

“Across the medical community there are many individuals delivering exceptional care, thinking innovatively and providing inspirational leadership in the area of JMO education and wellbeing.

“Through our Awards we honour and recognise a number of impressive health professionals within the NSW Health community making outstanding contributions,” added Dr Blizard.

The three Awards celebrate inspiring individuals and their support of junior doctors: the Geoff Marel Award recognising the work of a Supervisor or Director of Prevocational Education and Training; the JMO Manager of the Year Award for managers or administers; and the JMO of the Year Award.

HETI’s Prevocational Training Program oversees the training of Junior Medical Officers in their first two years, and these Awards recognise outstanding individuals who provide support and help make these early years a success for NSW JMOs and for our health system.

JMO OF THE YEAR – Dr Thomas Morrison

Dr Thomas Morrison is a Junior Medical Officer at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Camperdown.

Dr Morrison has been recognised with the JMO of the Year Award for his commitment and contribution to education that underpins clinical excellence and patient safety.

His leadership is well known at RPA where he has delivered numerous peer-to-peer teaching initiatives for both medical students and interns including: overseeing a bedside tutorial program involving more than fifty of his peers; facilitating intern crash courses; and tutoring surgical skills for medical interns and students.

He is also an active member of the RPA Handover Committee, RPA Chief Executive/DIT Steering Committee and the RPA Resident Medical Officer’s Association.

With a focus on promoting a culture of education and emotional support, earlier this year Dr Morrison took up the role of Chair of the JMO Forum of NSW managed by HETI; and has begun working with the NSW Ministry of Health Intern Work Readiness Advisory Committee.

Dr Morrison will represent NSW at the Confederation of Postgraduate Medical Education Councils (CPMEC) Australia & New Zealand Junior Doctor of the Year Award to be announced later this year.

THE GEOFF MAREL AWARD WINNER – Dr Eddy Fischer

Dr Eddy Fischer is a Renal Specialist and Director of Prevocational Education & Training (DPET) at Nepean Hospital.

Enthusiastically nominated by Junior Medical Officers, Resident Medical Officers and specialty Registrars, Dr Fischer was acknowledged for his orientation and mentorship of junior doctors and instilling a culture of approachability and learning between junior and senior staff. He was also recognised for his open door culture; for being an unwavering advocate for junior doctors’ education, wellbeing and training opportunities; and for ensuring appropriate supervision and rostering for those under his care.

This Award honours the work of the late Associate Professor Geoff Marel, a long-time contributor to prevocational training, advocate for trainee welfare, and pioneer known for his vision, creativity, insight and humanity. HETI recognises excellence in the support of junior doctors through the Geoff Marel Award.

Dr Fischer will represent NSW at the Confederation of Postgraduate Medical Education Councils (CPMEC) Australia & New Zealand’s Clinical Educator of the Year Award later this year.

JMO MANAGER OF THE YEAR – Ms Stacey Turnbull

Ms Stacey Turnbull is the Central Coast Medical Education Team Leader at Gosford Hospital.

Ms Turnbull has been awarded JMO Manager of the Year in recognition of her endless commitment to creating education and training opportunities that support the career aspirations of JMOs. Examples include hospital tours for new interns; orientation and buddy programs for International Medical Graduates; gaining sponsorship to enable afterhours Surgical Skills nights; career expos for medical students and junior doctors featuring wellbeing workshops, career specialties, mentor training, and mock interview panels.

Ms Turnbull’s contribution to researching and setting up a debriefing and psychological assistance program for JMOs working in medical oncology was also highlighted though the Award nomination process as yet another example of Ms Turnbull’s outstanding support for our junior medical workforce.

The Prevocational Training Council, consisting of education, training and medical leaders from across NSW select Award recipients following an open nomination process. A list of previous recipients can be found on the HETI website.

About HETI and our work with Medical Graduates

Together with our health partners HETI provides education and training support to around 2,000 junior doctors in that pivotal space between medical school and employment.

This year 1,026 interns will be placed into NSW Health facilities through the Health Education and Training Institute’s Medical Graduate Recruitment Program. HETI is accredited by the Medical Board of Australia as the intern training accreditation authority for NSW with responsibility for setting quality education standards and overseeing the training of all prevocational trainees in their first two postgraduate years.

HETI also supports the JMO Forum of NSW which provides an opportunity for JMOs to network and share innovations relating to prevocational supervision, education and training, accreditation and welfare, and advise the NSW Prevocational Training Council.

HETI, part of NSW Health, works with health partners to develop education and training that support the NSW Health workforce to deliver world-class health care.