Health Hero – Dr Gregory Gard
October 13, 2023
AMA Roll of Fellows Citation – Dr Elizabeth Marles
October 13, 2023
Dr Michael Bonning is the current President of AMA (NSW) and a well-respected general practitioner in Sydney’s Inner West. His clinical, teaching and medico-political experience have made him a valuable advocate for the profession.
Dr Bonning has extensive experience in health policy advisory roles to Government, non- profit and corporations. He is a speaker on physician health and healthcare leadership as a result of his unique experiences across government, leadership and medicine. His passion for improved healthcare and his collaborative spirit have made him a valuable contributor to healthcare reform.
In addition to serving on the Board of AMA (NSW), he is a Community Panel Member of Ad Standards, the medical advisor for DermaSensor, Adjunct Fellow of Macquarie University, and Non-executive director of Postgraduate Medical Council of Queensland.
From 2008 to 2014, he was a non-executive director of Beyond Blue.
Following his attainment of a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, and Medicine in 2008 from the University of Queensland, Dr Bonning completed his Master of Public Health (MPH), Health Policy Analysis and Funding in 2017. In addition, he completed the Executive Education program, Value Based Healthcare from Harvard Business School in 2017. He is a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.
He also served as a medical officer with the Royal Australian Navy and has been involved in fleet operations including border protection, as well as counter terrorism and counter drug smuggling operations in the Middle East, as well as missions in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Rim.
In addition to being a GP specialist, he is trained in high altitude physiology, diving medicine, aeromedical evacuation, and emergency management in remote environments.
As President of AMA (NSW), his priorities include improving workforce numbers throughout the State to alleviate pressure on public hospitals and address healthcare inequity in rural and regional NSW. He also actively promotes the value of primary care, which is essential to a cost-effective health system. In addition, he is focused on emerging issues such as the impact of technology, the role of private equity, value-based healthcare and overseas organisations taking an interest in Australian healthcare.