WA doctors receive highest accolades
Western Australian doctors have been recognised at the highest level at the AMA25 National Conference in Adelaide.
Dr Omar Khorshid with AMA President Dr Danielle McMullen.
Former AMA president and AMA (WA) president Dr Omar Khorshid was the joint winner of the 2025 AMA Gold Medal – the AMA’s highest honour – with Dr Tony Bartone.
Dr Rajeshwary (Raji) Krishnan received the AMA’s President’s award.
AMA President Dr Danielle McMullen said Dr Khorshid and Dr Bartone calmly and effectively led the profession through the worst health crisis Australia had faced in 100 years.
“The COVID-19 pandemic was a challenging and deeply uncertain time for the world – it was a time when all Australians turned to trusted health professionals and experts for advice and reassurance,” Dr McMullen said.
“Tony and Omar were both unflappable in the face of uncertainty, and we hope this award goes some way in recognising their exceptional service to the medical profession and the entire community during those difficult times.”
Dr Khorshid, an orthopaedic surgeon, was elected in August 2020 and quickly established himself as the voice of reason and calm in the pandemic, while still being a fierce advocate for the community and the profession.
Dr Khorshid was a mainstay in the media throughout his two-year tenure, representing the profession at the highest level – including at National Cabinet – and played a pivotal role in guiding the vaccine rollout and ensuring GPs played a central role, which helped Australia achieve one of the highest rates of vaccine uptake in the world.
Dr Khorshid said it was a great privilege to lead the AMA team during the pandemic.
“We worked incredibly hard together with AMA staff, state and territory AMAs, Federal Council and many external experts, despite the challenges of lockdowns and closed borders,” he said.
“We had a substantial and direct impact on public policy in many areas – on behalf of doctors and the community.
“I am proud of our achievements as a nation, as a profession, and as the peak professional organisation for doctors. I hope this award is a reminder of how much can be achieved when we work together as an AMA family.”
In 2022, Dr Khorshid launched the AMA’s Clear the Hospital Logjam, Sickly Sweet, and Modernise Medicare campaigns which continue to influence national health policy discussions. His advocacy was crucial in securing the $970m investment in Medicare and general practice promised by Labor in the 2022 federal election.
Dr Khorshid launched the AMA’s first ‘Vision for Australia’s Health’ in 2021, charting a course forward for the country’s health system. He also galvanised the AMA’s advocacy on issues relating to private health, convening the AMA Private Health Summit at Parliament House in June 2022.
Dr Raji Krishnan with Dr McMullen.
Dr Krishnan received the AMA’s President’s award for her dedication to improving health outcomes for multiple generations of First Nations families and establishing a multidisciplinary general practice for marginalised members of the community.
Dr McMullen said Dr Krishnan had made an extraordinary contribution to the health of vulnerable people, showing dedication to improving the health of First Nations people and general practice team care.
Dr Krishnan, who has worked for 45 years in Aboriginal healthcare, heads the multidisciplinary team at Pramana Medical Centre in Gosnells, to provide wraparound
support to more than 6,500 patients, of whom 65% are
First Nations people.
Dr Krishnan has always taken a keen interest in meeting her patients in locations convenient to them, and understands the barriers to accessing care by attending to patients at home, within the community, or even in a local park.
Dr McMullen said Dr Krishnan had shown a remarkable commitment to her patients during the COVID-19 pandemic by attending the homes of hundreds of vulnerable patients to give them potentially life-saving vaccines.
Dr Krishnan said she was humbled to be recognised by the AMA for her dedication to community healthcare and improving Aboriginal health outcomes.
“I acknowledge the immense support I have received from my dedicated practice team, including my daughter and fellow GP Dr Priya Krishnan; Co-director, the dynamic Ms Kate Fulford; and lifelong strength and encouragement from my husband, Mr Arun Krishnan,” she said.
“Most importantly, I thank my patients who continue to share their stories openly and courageously with me; who never cease to motivate me in this tireless journey of service. They have taught me more than I have taught them.”