The Federal Minister for Education and Training, Simon Birmingham, announced at an event at Curtin University today that well-known medical practitioner and medical training expert Dr Janice Bell had been appointed as Chair of the Curtin Medical School External Advisory Board.
Dr Bell has held the position of Chief Executive Officer of Western Australian General Practice Education and Training (WAGPET) since 2004 and was previously a National Manager for Continuing Professional Development with GP Education Australia.
Curtin Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Terry said Dr Bell was appointed as an Adjunct Professor to the University in 2012 and she was delighted that her association would soon extend to leading this key external advisory board.
“The Curtin Medical School External Advisory Board will provide critical input and guidance as the University establishes its Medical School, which plans to have its first intake of students in 2017,” Professor Terry said.
“The Medical School will offer a five-year, full-time, undergraduate Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery degree that will complement the postgraduate medical courses available at UWA and Notre Dame University.
“The medical degree will equip our graduates to be able to meet the needs of currently under-serviced areas of health care including primary care, chronic disease, ageing, Indigenous and regional health. This aligns with Curtin’s philosophy of teaching excellence.
“Adjunct Professor Bell’s qualifications and experience in medicine, as well as in education and training, make her ideally suited for this leadership role.
“We look forward to announcing other members of the Curtin Medical School External Advisory Board as they are appointed and I welcome Adjunct Professor Janice Bell to the role of Chair.”
Dr Bell said she was looking forward to working with the Curtin Medical School staff to help them deliver the highest standard of medical graduates in Western Australia.
“I am confident my experience in general practice, education and training in WA will support my ability to successfully lead the Curtin Medical School Advisory Board and am excited to be part of this industry led group,” Dr Bell said.
Dr Janice Bell completed her Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) in 1998 and now chairs the RACGP Expert Committee on Post Fellowship Education.
She is member of the RACGP National Rural Faculty, the Expert Committee on Pre Fellowship Education, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Faculty and the Special Interests Faculty. She is also on the WA Reference Board of the Australasian College for Health Services Managers.
In 2011, Dr Bell was awarded the RACGP Rose-Hunt Award, the highest award of the college for services to the general practice profession.
