The Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine (AFPHM) President’s Awards for Outstanding Contribution recognise a Fellow and a trainee who have made a notable contribution to the Faculty in any of the following areas:

• education, training and assessment
• policy and advocacy
• trainee commitment
• other

Recipients

Dr Penelope Fotheringham | 2023 recipient

Penelope Fotheringham is a dual trained Public Health Physician and Obstetrician/Gynaecologist with extensive experience across the clinical, academic, and educational sectors.

She is committed to enhancing women’s healthcare by applying her skills to the development and implementation of policies and guidelines grounded in clinical practice and evidence. Her goal is to ensure that healthcare decisions are made based on best practices rather than sociocultural expectations, thereby providing the highest standard of care for the population.

Penelope is also investigating how medical education can impact health professionals' responsiveness to health literacy through her PhD thesis, focusing on delivering clear, evidence-based information to both clients and the broader community.

Dr Greg Stewart | 2023 recipient

After forty years in the NSW Health system as a clinician, public health physician, and senior manager, Dr Greg Stewart retired in April 2020 from his role as Director of Primary, Integrated and Community Health for the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (2011-2020). His extensive career included a variety of management and public health roles within NSW Health, including Director of the South Western Sydney Public Health Unit (1990-1996), Chief Executive Officer of Wentworth Area Health Service (2000-2001), Chief Health Officer of NSW (2001-2005), and Director of Population Health, Planning and Performance for the Sydney South West Area Health Service (2005-2011).

Following his retirement, Dr Stewart was called back to assist the NSW Health COVID-19 Public Health Response Branch from July to October 2020 and again from July to November 2021. In these roles, he served as Deputy Public Health Controller and Senior Medical Advisor, contributing to various aspects of COVID-19 prevention and response.

In retirement, Dr Stewart remains highly engaged with the College as Regional Education Coordinator for NSW and Chair of the AFPHM Faculty Training Committee. He also chairs the Advisory Committee of the Centre for Primary Health Care and Equity at UNSW and the Management Committee of the Join Us Research Register at the George Institute.

No nominations were received in 2022.

Eligibility

A nominee must be a Fellow or active Advanced Trainee of the AFPHM, nominated by a current Fellow or Advanced Trainee of the AFPHM.

A nominee is ineligible if they:

• submit a nomination on their own behalf
• have received a President’s Award within the last 3 years

Prize

A Fellow and a trainee will be formally acknowledged at a Faculty event in 2025.

Nominate

Before submitting your nomination, read the terms and conditions for awards and prizes valued up to $5000 and notify your nominee of your intent.

Nominations must be submitted in PDF format to foundation@racp.edu.au, including:

1. a completed nomination form (DOC)
2. CV of the nominee
3. letters of support from referees
4. other relevant supporting documentation — 2 documents maximum, no more than 3 pages each

Download nomination form (DOC)

Note: A nomination is not complete and cannot be progressed unless all required documentation is received.

The College Conflicts Of Interest Policy (PDF) and Privacy Policy apply.

Selection process

An Award Review Panel comprised of the AFPHM President and 2 other AFPHM Fellows will review all the nominations. 

The AFPHM reserves the right not to make an award if all nominations received don't sufficiently meet the criteria.

For more information about the Awards, contact the RACP Foundation.

Related content

Past recipients
Terms and conditions
Division, Faculty and Chapter Awards and Prizes