Kerryn Phelps
Encyclopedia
Kerryn Lyndel Phelps AM
(born 14 December 1957, Sydney, Australia) is an Australian medical practitioner and public commentator. She is current President of the Australasian Integrative Medicine Association and Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health at the University of Sydney
. Professor Phelps was the first woman and first LGBT
person to be elected president of the Federal Australian Medical Association
(AMA). In 2003 she was awarded the Centenary Medal
for services to Health and Medicine.
on the Nine Network
.
In 1999 Phelps was elected president of the New South Wales
Branch of the Australian Medical Association
(AMA). The following year she was elected Federal President of the AMA, where she served the maximum term of three years. Some of her more significant successes involved working with Australian State and Federal Governments on resolving an emerging medical indemnity crisis. The unresolved medical insurance issue threatened obstetrics
and neurosurgery
in particular, and was exacerbated by escalating medical malpractice
claims.
She was also instrumental in establishing an advisory committee on Indigenous
health, and promoting debate on the importance of the public health system in response to the bioterrorism
threat.
Phelps' major areas of interest included integrative medicine
, public health, and human rights issues. As AMA President, she convened an expert advisory committee and pioneered the AMA's first position statement on complementary medicine. She also raised awareness of issues such as Aboriginal health problems, the medical workforce shortage and environmental health.
Her time as AMA president was marked by a very public clash with the then federal Minister for Health Dr Michael Wooldridge
. He publicly claimed that she had no specialist medical qualifications The minister later issued a public apology.
In 2008 Phelps was awarded the "Bent Spoon" by the Australian Skeptics Association, an award "presented to the perpetrator of the most preposterous piece of paranormal or pseudoscientific piffle", for "selling quackery and woowoo".
Today, Phelps is a medical practitioner and founder of uclinic and Cooper Street Clinic in Sydney. She is a regular speaker to health professionals and the general public on health and well-being, as well as leadership and strategy for professional organisations. She is currently the health writer for the Australian Women's Weekly
and writes political commentary for Medical Observer Magazine. She is a regular commentator on general practice, public health, medical politics and human rights issues. She is also the narrator of Last Chance Surgery
, a television program on Australia's Channel 7 network.
In 2009 she was elected President of the Australasian Integrative Medicine Association.
. She is in a long-term relationship with Jackie Stricker, a former primary school teacher. Phelps and Stricker married in a religious ceremony in New York on 4 January 1998, however, Australian law does not recognise same-sex marriage. From her first marriage she has a daughter, Jaime and a son, Carl.
In 2009, Phelps was named one of the 25 most influential lesbians in Australia by readers of the website samesame.com.au.
in 2001 for service to Australian society and medicine. On 13 June 2011, she was named a Member of the Order of Australia
for service to medicine, particularly through leadership roles with the Australian Medical Association, to education and community health, and as a general practitioner.
Phelps has three children. Daughter Jaime, son Carl and daughter Gabrielle
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 14 December 1957, Sydney, Australia) is an Australian medical practitioner and public commentator. She is current President of the Australasian Integrative Medicine Association and Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
. Professor Phelps was the first woman and first LGBT
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
person to be elected president of the Federal Australian Medical Association
Australian Medical Association
The Australian Medical Association is a professional association for Australian doctors and medical students.The AMA uses a representative structure involving state branches and committees to work with members to promote and protect the interests of doctors.The mechanisms that allow this include:*...
(AMA). In 2003 she was awarded the Centenary Medal
Centenary Medal
The Centenary Medal is an award created by the Australian Government in 2001. It was established to commemorate the Centenary of Federation of Australia and to honour people who have made a contribution to Australian society or government...
for services to Health and Medicine.
Professional life
In 1992, Phelps was a regular on the popular sex education program SexSex (TV series)
Sex, also known as Sex with Sophie Lee, is an Australian television series that ran from 1992 to 1993 on the Nine Network. It was hosted by Sophie Lee in its first season and Pamela Stephenson in its second...
on the Nine Network
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
.
In 1999 Phelps was elected president of the New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
Branch of the Australian Medical Association
Australian Medical Association
The Australian Medical Association is a professional association for Australian doctors and medical students.The AMA uses a representative structure involving state branches and committees to work with members to promote and protect the interests of doctors.The mechanisms that allow this include:*...
(AMA). The following year she was elected Federal President of the AMA, where she served the maximum term of three years. Some of her more significant successes involved working with Australian State and Federal Governments on resolving an emerging medical indemnity crisis. The unresolved medical insurance issue threatened obstetrics
Obstetrics
Obstetrics is the medical specialty dealing with the care of all women's reproductive tracts and their children during pregnancy , childbirth and the postnatal period...
and neurosurgery
Neurosurgery
Neurosurgery is the medical specialty concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of disorders which affect any portion of the nervous system including the brain, spine, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and extra-cranial cerebrovascular system.-In the United States:In...
in particular, and was exacerbated by escalating medical malpractice
Medical malpractice
Medical malpractice is professional negligence by act or omission by a health care provider in which the treatment provided falls below the accepted standard of practice in the medical community and causes injury or death to the patient, with most cases involving medical error. Standards and...
claims.
She was also instrumental in establishing an advisory committee on Indigenous
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
health, and promoting debate on the importance of the public health system in response to the bioterrorism
Bioterrorism
Bioterrorism is terrorism involving the intentional release or dissemination of biological agents. These agents are bacteria, viruses, or toxins, and may be in a naturally occurring or a human-modified form. For the use of this method in warfare, see biological warfare.-Definition:According to the...
threat.
Phelps' major areas of interest included integrative medicine
Integrative medicine
Integrative medicine or integrative health is the combination of the practices and methods of alternative medicine with conventional medicine. The term is relatively recent, and is mainly promoted by proponents of alternative therapies in the west...
, public health, and human rights issues. As AMA President, she convened an expert advisory committee and pioneered the AMA's first position statement on complementary medicine. She also raised awareness of issues such as Aboriginal health problems, the medical workforce shortage and environmental health.
Her time as AMA president was marked by a very public clash with the then federal Minister for Health Dr Michael Wooldridge
Michael Wooldridge
Michael Richard Lewis Wooldridge is an Australian doctor, company director, and a former politician. He was a Member of the Australian House of Representatives for the Liberal Party representing the Division of Chisholm, Victoria, between 1987 and 1996, and representing the Division of Casey,...
. He publicly claimed that she had no specialist medical qualifications The minister later issued a public apology.
In 2008 Phelps was awarded the "Bent Spoon" by the Australian Skeptics Association, an award "presented to the perpetrator of the most preposterous piece of paranormal or pseudoscientific piffle", for "selling quackery and woowoo".
Today, Phelps is a medical practitioner and founder of uclinic and Cooper Street Clinic in Sydney. She is a regular speaker to health professionals and the general public on health and well-being, as well as leadership and strategy for professional organisations. She is currently the health writer for the Australian Women's Weekly
Australian Women's Weekly
The Australian Women's Weekly is an Australian monthly women's magazine published by ACP Magazines, a division of PBL Media based in Sydney. Audited circulation in 2009 exceeded 500,000 copies monthly, making it the largest magazine in Australia.-History:...
and writes political commentary for Medical Observer Magazine. She is a regular commentator on general practice, public health, medical politics and human rights issues. She is also the narrator of Last Chance Surgery
Last Chance Surgery
Last Chance Surgery is an Australian factual television series screened on the Seven Network that first screened in 2009. Last Chance Surgery narrated by doctor and former Australian Medical Association president, Kerryn Phelps. The series features people whose only hope of survival is radical and...
, a television program on Australia's Channel 7 network.
In 2009 she was elected President of the Australasian Integrative Medicine Association.
Personal life
Phelps' has a younger brother, Australian TV actor Peter PhelpsPeter Phelps
Peter Phelps is an Australian actor, singer and writer. He is notable for his role of Peter Church in the television drama, Stingers and Trevor Cole, in Baywatch...
. She is in a long-term relationship with Jackie Stricker, a former primary school teacher. Phelps and Stricker married in a religious ceremony in New York on 4 January 1998, however, Australian law does not recognise same-sex marriage. From her first marriage she has a daughter, Jaime and a son, Carl.
In 2009, Phelps was named one of the 25 most influential lesbians in Australia by readers of the website samesame.com.au.
Honours
Phelps was awarded the Centenary MedalCentenary Medal
The Centenary Medal is an award created by the Australian Government in 2001. It was established to commemorate the Centenary of Federation of Australia and to honour people who have made a contribution to Australian society or government...
in 2001 for service to Australian society and medicine. On 13 June 2011, she was named a Member of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
for service to medicine, particularly through leadership roles with the Australian Medical Association, to education and community health, and as a general practitioner.
Phelps has three children. Daughter Jaime, son Carl and daughter Gabrielle