Candidate Statements for the 2024 Election of Mutual Board Directors

I am a GP in a busy metro practice seeking your support for re-election. My primary focus is to ensure that MDA delivers the best value and service to its members by:

• Keeping premiums as low as possible while making sure that MDA is always able to pay for member claims.
• Providing clear, prompt access to current, expert medico-legal advice.
• Staying aware of emerging trends and pressures in the evolving healthcare landscape.
• Remaining accessible to all members to represent and advocate your concerns directly.
• Completing MDA’s technology transformation, which will drive efficiency and enhance member experience.
• Being a champion for diversity, inclusion, and sustainability within the organisation.
• Ethically investing members’ funds with a strong focus on financial performance.

Currently, I serve as the Technology Board Lead and sit on the Capital Committee. I have never missed a meeting and it has been a privilege to represent you.

Over the past decade, I’ve also worked with the RACGP and state and federal health departments, representing our profession in various capacities.

Thank you for considering my candidacy. Please do not hesitate to reach out directly if you need any support.

Dear Colleagues

I seek your support in re-electing me to the MDA National Board. It was an honour to be elected by the members in 2018 and again in 2021. In 2020 I was elected Chair of the Mutual Board by my colleagues. With the board’s support, I wish to continue to serve as President. First, I need your support in this election.

I joined MDAN on graduation just under 30 years ago. MDAN took care of me during a potentially career-ending coronial inquiry when I was a registrar. I have never underestimated the value of our ‘Doctors for Doctors’ ethos.

In 2011 I was appointed to our Cases Committee. I have extensive experience in quality, safety and audit. I am Chair of the WA Perinatal & Infant Mortality Committee. I regularly provide expert reports to the Coroner’s Court and the District Court in WA and the NT.

I am an experienced company director. I also serve as a Director of Amana Living and the Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA). I was awarded Fellowship of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD) in 2020.

I am deeply immersed in our organisation, not only through ongoing service to our Cases Committees, but the Underwriting Committee and the Board of MDA National Insurance Pty Ltd.

I am determined to continue to serve MDAN. I can only do so with your support.

Dr Michael Gannon

Having energetically contributed to MDAN since internship, as a Director for 6 years and current Chair of the Queensland State Advisory Committee, I seek re-election to the Mutual Board.

With 18 years in clinical and medical leadership in public and private hospitals, I have deep industry experience as a senior executive in both health and insurance. I’ve supported doctors through all career stages and understand the importance of expert medicolegal advice and value of a medical defence organisation in supporting, protecting and promoting member interests and advocating for doctors health. I am passionate about strengthening medical leadership and empowering doctors to influence system improvement and policy.

As a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, I ensure my director skills up to date with regular professional development and have substantial governance experience at board level across sectors. I draw on my clinical, management and insurance business/commercial experience to protect member interests, promote member-focussed responses and support clarity in areas of emerging risk. I regularly engage with members to better understand different viewpoints and issues and at the board table contribute diversity of thought and experience - a recognised component of good governance - in addressing complex challenges facing doctors and the indemnity industry.

I enjoy hearing from fellow members and thank you for your input and support over my 2 terms. In seeking re-election for a final term, I will continue to serve you, using my skills in insurance and health management to advocate for member interests and strong governance.

My name is Dr Vidisha Vaidya and I am an Australian medical graduate from the University of Adelaide. I am currently the Inaugural Director of Medical Education (Clinical Radiology), Consultant Radiologist, and RANZCR appointed Director of Training at SKG Radiology in Western Australia. Additionally, I am the Inaugural WA State-wide Coordinator of Pathology Teaching and Lecture Lead for the WA Radiology Training (WART) Programme. I have also been appointed as the National Co-convener for the RANZCR Centralized Learning Program. I have the honour of serving the wider WA community following the statutory appointment to Deputy Member of the WA Radiological Council.

My vision for MDA National is to enhance member engagement and promote the important services it provides to our medical community. I believe that I possess the requisite qualities of honesty, integrity, accountability, inclusivity, and transparency; qualities required for good corporate governance at the Board level. I also have a vision to promote diversity and inclusion within MDA National.

In my role as Deputy Member of the Radiological Council under the direction of the WA Minister of Health, some of my important duties include implementing a scheme for registration and licensing involving radiation use, conducting inquiries into alleged breaches, and to investigate these breaches where necessary. My role within the Clinical Standards Committee at SKG ensures that judicious, safe, high-quality and efficient care is provided for our patients.

I believe that my skills will be an adjunctive asset to the MDA National Board.

Thank you for your consideration.

I believe that MDA National is well-positioned to navigate the evolving healthcare landscape, and I’m committed to ensuring it remains an indispensable partner to doctors in any of their challenges.

As a long-standing member of MDA National, I feel it’s time to give back to an organization that has consistently supported me and my colleagues. Every time I’ve called on MDA for guidance, their professionalism and commitment to serving doctors has been exceptional. I leave the phone calls feeling supported and safe.

With years of experience running GenWise Health, an aged care specific general practice and Oxygen Healthcare, I understand the unique challenges that come with being both a medical professional and a business director. This dual perspective enables me to consider the needs of doctors, whether in clinical practice or in managing their businesses.

Additionally, my work with large organizations in Adelaide has given me the insight needed to contribute at a board level. I’m eager to leverage my skills to help MDA National continue serving its members and making a meaningful impact in the lives of doctors across Australia.

By joining the board, I aim to contribute to the continued growth of the company which allows continued support and service to its members.

Over the past twenty-three years, I have worked as a GP in regional Queensland, NSW and Victoria, combining my clinical work with various medical educator, management and leadership roles. After a non-clinical stint as General Manager of Education for the RACGP, I’ve returned to clinical general practice, now working in Ballarat, Victoria.

I am deeply committed to MDA National and work across several areas of the business: Claims (as a member of the Eastern Cases Committee), Underwriting (as a member of the Underwriting Committee), Education and as a current Mutual Board Director.

I am a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and have completed an MBA in leadership. Together with my management experience, these have given me the kind of business skills to help ensure that MDA National is operationally efficient and financially sustainable. But our organisation needs to be more than this; it needs to support and advocate for its members, individually and collectively.

Since 2013, I have presented well over 100 MDA National educational sessions across Australia. I’ve talked to hundreds of you about your fears, frustrations and uncertainties relating to medical practice's legal and regulatory aspects. I’ve listened. I've advocated.

I’m passionate about our profession and those who practice it. If re-elected, I will continue to work on behalf of MDA National members so that we can all look after the health of Australians, as unencumbered by medico-legal and regulatory stressors as possible.