Top honour for rural surgeon

Professor Graeme Richardson’s significant contributions to rural medicine will be recognised with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) Medal.

Richardson has an international reputation as a leading vascular surgeon, and is well-known for his development of ultrasound for use in understanding and assessment of venous disease.

Based in Wagga Wagga, Richardson is Professor of Surgery at the UNSW Rural Clinical School (RCS), and is a past chair of the Department of Surgery at Wagga Wagga Base Hospital. He has been Area Director of Postgraduate Training for seven years, and Executive Medical Director of Wagga Wagga Base Hospital for three years.

“It is a great honour to receive the award. I’m still passionate about teaching surgery and seeing graduates working in rural areas. It always gives me a great thrill,” Richardson says.

UNSW Medicine Dean, Professor Peter Smith, congratulated Richardson on his award: “It is fantastic to see Graeme being recognised for his substantial contribution to surgery, particularly while working in the field of rural medicine.”

Richardson has lived in Wagga Wagga for 36 years. It was his desire to find local solutions for communities facing medical crises that brought him to regional New South Wales.

A key focus of Richardson’s career has been to boost the number of rural doctors, which is a key issue for many parts of Australia. 

Richardson believes RCS programs that cater to, and work to retain rural medical students, are helping to solve this issue.

“Preferential intake for rural students is something I have campaigned for, as it works towards producing more medical professionals who will eventually work in these rural areas.”

UNSW also has Rural Medicine Schools in Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour and Albury Wodonga.

Professor Richardson will accept the award at the RACS Annual Scientific Congress in Kuala Lumpur on May 6.

Media contact: Steve Offner, UNSW Media Office, 02 9385 8107