General News
5 July, 2024
Horsham doctors take top awards
Two Horsham doctors have won prestigious awards for their ongoing contribution to healthcare in their community.
Dr David Wilson and Dr Felix Ritson, both at Lister House Clinic, received state-wide recognition at the 2024 Victorian Rural Health Awards for outstanding contribution as rural health professionals.
Rural Workforce Agency Victoria and the Victorian Department of Health organised the virtual evening which honoured rural healthcare professionals in 12 categories.
The awards highlight excellence across many areas of healthcare including doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, Aboriginal health workers and practice managers dedicated to serving Victoria’s rural communities.
This year's awards included a new category for outstanding contribution by a mentor or supervisor who worked towards maintaining sustainability in the state's rural health workforce.
Dr Wilson, a GP specialist at Lister House, received his award for outstanding contribution by a rural GP who had shown ongoing commitment to providing exceptional care to meet current and future healthcare community needs.
Initially a GP, he has worked for 34 years in Horsham and now specialises in obstetrics, paediatrics, and offers supervised training for other GPs.
He served as director of intern training at Horsham's hospital for more than 20 years and now leads general ruralist training in paediatrics and palliative care and is also committed to the education of nursing and midwifery students.
Dr Wilson has delivered more than 10,000 babies in the Wimmera and also has the role of an advising surgeon in forensic investigations.
He ran a kids' asthma camp in Mildura and was instrumental in delivering bone marrow collection and registration, including his own.
After the death of a colleague he also took on additional responsibilities at Lister House.
Dr Ritson, the second Horsham recipient, received a Rising Star Award. This award recognises a junior health professional who has shown passion for rural health and is intent on dedicating their career to rural communities.
The first-year Fellowship Support Program doctor received his award for commitment to patient care and contributions to his practice and the community.
The judges heard that Dr Felix Ritson tackled challenging cases and had increased his skills to deal with patients on methadone and drugs of dependence.
He has also mentored medical students and initiated a Doctors in School program.
Dr Ritson is involved in community well-being initiatives such as the Men’s Shed program and Men’s Talk groups.