Talented Albany Health Campus doctors finalists in WA Rural Health Awards

Two Albany Health Campus rising stars have been recognised among the State’s top country doctors as finalists in the 2022 WA Rural health Excellence Awards.

Hosted by Rural Health West and WA Country Health Service, the annual awards recognise the contributions of rural health professionals and their critical roles in rural communities across WA.

Albany doctor Alec Disley is one of two finalists for the intern of the year category while Alice Vella is up for resident medical officer of the year for her work at Albany Health Campus.

The duo were selected from 125 nominations from colleagues, peers and community members across 10 categories.

With a strong interest in rural general practice, Dunsborough-raised Dr Disley finished his internship at Albany Health Campus last year and has stayed on to complete his registered medical officer qualifications this year.

Dr Disley was recognised as a “friendly and hardworking” team player who prides himself on delivering patient-centred care, advocacy and humility in his practice.

“His supervisors have repeatedly commented on his excellent clinical knowledge and willingness to be a team player and a team leader,” a WACHS spokeswoman said.

Dr Vella was selected as a finalist for her work as a resident medical officer in Albany last year after starting at the hospital as an intern and discovering a love of country medicine during her placement in Esperance with the Rural Clinical School in 2018.

Now working in Perth to gain further experience in paediatrics and obstetrics, Dr Vella aims to pursue her rural generalist training.

She was a founding committee member of the Albany Junior Medical Officers of the Great Southern and served as president in 2021.

“This experience provided her with great experience representing and advocating for rural junior doctors,” a WACHS spokeswoman said.

Winners will be announced at the 2022 WA Rural Health Awards in Perth on March 26.