Kimberley fly-in-fly-out doctor wins prestigious 2023 ACRRM Registrar of the Year award

A Kimberley-based doctor has been honoured with the 2023 Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine Registrar of the Year award for his leadership and advocacy in the field of rural and remote medicine.

Dr Jarrad Lenegan, a rural generalist who works fly-in-fly-out between Broome and Fitzroy Crossing, was presented with the prestigious award at the Rural Medicine Australia conference dinner in Hobart on October 20.

Representing Remote Vocational Training Scheme peers on the ACRRM registrar committee, Dr Lenegan advocates for better access and flexibility in college assessments and expanding the mutual support among registrars across Australia.

He said he was honoured to receive the award, recognising the many doctors who provided encouragement and advice.

“Over the last three years, the team in Broome, Derby and Fitzroy Crossing Hospitals have embraced me as a colleague and assisted me as a registrar,” Dr Lenegan said.

“They create a work atmosphere with enough independence to develop my confidence, combined with a certainty of their support that feels safe.”

His dream to live and work in rural Australia stems from accompanying his truck driver father who delivered supplies to remote communities in the Gibson Desert.

“Accompanying him on these outback trips and taking campervan holidays with my family in the Kimberley, Wheatbelt and South West was probably the basis of wanting to eventually live in remote WA,” he said.

With experience training in rural practice and immersing in himself the John Flynn Placement Program in remote Queensland and Tasmania, Dr Lenegan was further inspired by training at the Rural Clinical School in New South Wales.

Dr Lenegan opted for ACRRM training through the RVTS, which is based on the principle of offering high-quality remote supervision and instruction to aspiring GPs who want to continue their practice in areas outside of major centres.

“However, I felt something was missing — when I transitioned into ACRRM training and my variety of work expanded to include primary care, inpatient and emergency medicine, I felt fulfilled,” he said.

ACRRM president Dr Dan Halliday said Dr Lenegan was an outstanding choice for this year’s award.

“His experiences across the nation and his commitment to the region in the Kimberley are demonstrated by his connection to communities, mentors and peers,” he said.