The Australian Medical Association (AMA) has recognised three leading Victorian doctors with significant awards for their contributions to the medical profession, with one of them being Associate Professor Magdalena Simonis AM.
AMA presented the Greek Australian with the 2023 AMA President Award for her contribution to women’s health over a long and distinguished career.
Especially recognised is her work during the COVID pandemic, working with migrant communities on protecting their health.
Simonis was member of the National COVID-19 Taskforce expert committee, and presented at the United Nations as part of the Australian Assembly. She was appointed the Australian representative to the World Health Organisation, World Assembly on COVID 19, by the Medical Women’s International Association in 2021.
Born to Greek migrant parents, Simonis is proud of her Greek heritage and takes the migrant voice into her advocacy and leadership, as evident with the pandemic work and her several years on the board for PRONIA.
The leading women’s health expert is also a keynote speaker, climate change and gender equity advocate, government advisor and holds positions on several not for profit organisations bridging gaps across the health sector.
Passionate about health communication and achieving health literacy in the marginalised communities the published researcher has made regular media and article contributions on various issues through medical publications, news outlets and mainstream media.
Last year she received the AMA Victoria Patrick Pritzwald-Steggman Award which celebrates a doctor who has made an exceptional contribution to the wellbeing of their colleagues and the community.
Her other appointments include the National Endometriosis Expert Advisory Group, the National Cervical Cancer Elimination Strategy Expert Advisory Group, member of the Technical Expert Advisory Group to review the regulation of Cosmetic Surgery and Board Director of the Melbourne Teaching Health Clinics University of Melbourne and Breast Cancer Network Australia Strategy and Policy member.
The elected representative for Australian Medical Association Federal Council is also a longstanding lifetime member of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.
Earlier this year, Simonis was honoured with the Medal of the Order (AM) and was named on the 2023 Kings Birthday COVID-19 honour roll.
