The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has congratulated Professor Helen Wilcox on her appointment as Dean of the Medical School the University of Western Australia.
She has been serving as the Interim Dean and Head of School at the University of Western Australia (UWA) Medical School since earlier this year.
Associate Professor Wilcox is the first GP to be appointed as Dean of Medicine at UWA.
Until her appointment as Dean, Associate Professor Wilcox was a medical educator and academic and has published research into medical student education and welfare. She will continue to work fractionally as a GP at Shenton Park General Practice in Perth.
As a passionate advocate for doctors' mental health and wellbeing, Associate Professor Wilcox is also Medical Director of the Doctors' Health Advisory Service in WA.
She also played a key role in GP training as RACGP WA Censor from 2007–2020.
RACGP WA Chair and Vice President Dr Ramya Raman said: "On behalf of the college, I'd like to congratulate Helen. This is an excellent appointment by UWA and recognises her contributions as a highly-qualified general practitioner, academic, teacher, and leader.
"To have someone like Helen become a Dean of Medicine is not only a first, but reflects a growing awareness of the central role good general practice plays in an effective health system.
"UWA makes an important contribution to Australia's primary care workforce with a significant share of its graduates going on to serve our communities as GPs. Helen's appointment as Dean demonstrates to a new generation of medical students the breadth of what you can achieve in general practice.
"We look forward to continuing our great work with UWA in shaping the future of general practitioners in WA and beyond."
~
