Dr Julian Rait for AMA Vice President
A Lifetime of Leadership
01 — Multiple leadership roles
I have been an AMA member since graduating from the Melbourne University Medical School in 1982. I have since held several academic roles at Melbourne University and worked as a sub-specialist Ophthalmologist in public and private practice for over 30 years. I was the President of AMA Victoria from 2018-2021 and worked alongside Dr McMullen during the pandemic years while she was the president of AMA(NSW). I also have served on the Federal Council of RANZCO, been the Victorian RANZCO Chair and have served as the Chair of the AMA Federal Council from 2021-2022. I have been a fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors since 2008 and have been involved in multiple not-for-profit groups. I am currently the Deputy Chair of Vision Australia where I continue to support those with blindness and low vision
02 — Considerable Medical Experience
While I trained as an Ophthalmologist in Melbourne, I began my specialist career in the USA and observed how a weak and divided medical profession has let the US health system deteriorate so that it is now dominated by for-profit health insurers and large hospital corporations. Equally, having served in the Victorian public hospital system, including as a unit head at the Royal Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital for 12 years, I am aware of the challenges of public hospital funding in Australia. I have enjoyed being involved in clinical research and public hospital practice, but have especially enjoyed training many fellows, registrars and medical students. I have a daughter who is an advanced trainee in paediatrics and a son-in-law who is training in ophthalmology. I am thus most familiar with the pressures faced by our trainees today and those working in public hospital practice. Furthermore, the AMA will find itself at times confronted by the social determinants of health and being asked to venture to the edge of genuine health policy debates. However, by advocating for a greater investment in prevention and considering how best to support the most vulnerable in our community should continue to be a priority for the AMA.
03 — Sound Media Performer
I am an accomplished media performer and served alongside two federal presidents, namely Dr Tony Bartone and Dr Omar Khorshid when I was the AMA Victoria president from 2018-2021. And by virtue of being a recent state AMA president and the immediate past Chair of the AMA Federal Council, I am familiar with many of the AMA’s key health policies and position statements. Consequently, I will continue to work hard to engage with our members and advocate for their concerns while continuing to build positive working relationships with politicians across the political spectrum. In this way the AMA can deliver the right outcomes for our members, Australian doctors, and our community of patients
My priorities for the AMA:
Strong advocacy directed towards the Commonwealth Government and Opposition, especially in the areas of GP, private health insurance and mental health care
Working within the AMA and all levels of government to support greater funding for GP’s and particularly rural and Indigenous medicine
Advocate for real improvements in doctor’s health and medical student well-being
Ensure good governance, and an improved advocacy capability, combined with more efficient management of the AMA
