AMAV VICDOC SUMMER 2023 - Magazine - Page 77
DR BRENDAN STEEL
—
Brendan initially worked at St Vincent’s, Prince
Henry’s and the Royal Women’s Hospital
before starting out in general practice in
Pyramid Hill in Victoria for 5 years. He then
returned to obstetrics and gynaecology at the
Queen Victoria Hospital in Adelaide followed
by 12 months at the Odstock Hospital in
Salisbury UK and 6 months at Addenbrooke’s
Maternity Hospital in Cambridge UK. Brendan
then spent 21 years in full-time obstetric and
gynaecological practice in Gippsland and
obtained his FRACGP in 1983 and his FRACOG
in 1987. Brendan says he enjoyed both general
practice and obstetrics and gynaecology,
although he primarily worked in the latter
specialty. Prior to retiring in 2020, Brendan
worked as an obstetrician and gynaecologist
in Melbourne for 10 years at Sandringham
Hospital, Cabrini and Jessie MacPherson and
also spent some time working for the Victorian
Doctor’s Health Program supporting his
medical colleagues.
Brendan is the founding member and a
long-term volunteer with the AMA Victoria
Peer Visitor Program. He really enjoys the
one-on-one friendships he has with his older
peers and values the opportunity to give back
to the older doctors who have given so much
to the Australian community through their
work as doctors. Brendan says he gets a lot
of satisfaction from being a visitor. He notes
that many of the older doctors he has visited
have outlived their close friends and partners
and feel isolated. He believes that the common
bond of medicine and joint understanding of
life experiences enhances the relationships
formed through the program. Brendan
believes that volunteering enhances his own
quality of life and fits well with his personal
values and approach to his career in medicine.
He finds visiting an easy flexible activity
which can be fitted around work and
other commitments.
Now that he is retired Brendan enjoys the
opportunity to still be involved with the AMA
and medicine in this role. Brendan admits that
over his many years of visiting he has grown
more comfortable with the aging process,
declining health and the death of those he visits.
He noted that this contrasted well to his work
in obstetrics bringing new life into the world.
DR RON SPEECHLEY
—
Ron originally graduated from Sydney
University in 1956 and Brendan from
Melbourne University in 1974. They have
both seen a lot of change in the way
medicine is practiced and how healthcare
is provided. They have worked in similar
areas of practice including general practice
and obstetrics and gynaecology in both
metropolitan and regional areas. In addition,
Ron worked in medical administration as a
medical director and in emergency medicine
in regional Australia.
This ability to practice in various roles in
many locations provided Ron with a great
deal of satisfaction in his 73-year career
prior to retirement. Ron sagely notes
that over his lifetime there has always
been a shortage of doctors and a problem
attracting doctors to regional areas. Ron’s
view, which may not be popular with more
recent generations of doctors, is that there
is a need for a full-time commitment to
clinical medicine to resolve wthe current
workforce shortages.
In his long career Ron has worked
in many locations in NSW and Victoria,
including Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart and
spent time in the Shepparton area as well as
Bega and Orange. His career pathway also
included working in the UK at the Newcastle
General Hospital and while travelling in
the USA he visited large hospitals with
obstetric and gynaecology units like The
John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. Ron
did not allow a brain tumour which caused
permanent damage to his eyesight interfere
with his professional career and after
time in medical administration was able
to return to clinical practice in the
emergency department.
Ron has had two visitors previously
through the Peer Visitor Program when he
was living in Shepparton and enjoyed their
company. During the time of his current
match with Brendan Ron has relocated from
living independently in his own property
in Melbourne to living in a supported
care environment which has been a
challenging transition
—
The Peer Visitor Program is
proudly sponsored by VMIAL,
the name behind PSA Insurance.
VI CD O C SPRI N G 2022
77