Dr Catherine Yelland concludes her two-year term as President of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) today.

Dr Yelland is a specialist physician and geriatrician who has practised in major Brisbane hospitals as well as Redcliffe for more than 30 years.

As part of the RACP’s advocacy work, she has been vocal on the harms to physical and mental health caused by offshore immigration detention and lobbied for a healthier approach to alcohol consumption, alcohol advertising to children and reducing alcohol-related harms in the community.

Recently, she returned from Fiji, where the RACP announced a formal agreement with Fiji National University that will see doctors from Australia, New Zealand and Fiji working together to develop specialist medical training expertise and education.

Her achievements as RACP President include the delivery of an Indigenous Strategic Framework which will see the RACP take on a leadership role in Indigenous health, working in partnership with Indigenous health leaders to contribute to better health outcomes and supporting an appropriately trained specialist workforce.

During Dr Yelland’s presidency, the RACP continued to roll out its Evolve initiatives to improve clinical care, developed tools to help members manage the National Disability Insurance Scheme and identified and promoted the principles of good end-of-life care.

Dr Yelland graduated from the University of Queensland in 1981, and trained in general medicine and geriatric medicine. She was awarded Fellowship of the RACP in 1989.

She has served in various roles in the Australian and New Zealand Society for Geriatric Medicine, and was Society President from 2007 to 2009. She was awarded the Public Service Medal in the 2014 Australian Honours.

Dr Yelland is interested in clinical medicine, student and postgraduate teaching, and service development. She has three young adult children, two of whom are junior doctors.

The RACP’s incoming President is Associate Professor Mark Lane who will serve in the role for a two-year term.