AMA celebrates Women's History Month 2026

Dr Vida Viliunas - AMA ACT member 

Canberra-based anaesthetist, Dr Vida Viliunas, is a leading light in Australian medicine, respected by senior politicians, loved by colleagues, and revered by medical students. 

As president of the Australian Society of Anaesthetists, she advocates for the profession at the highest national levels. She is also a senior figure in medical education, having been an examiner for 12 years with Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists and a previous chair of the final fellowship examination.

Nevertheless, on her ward rounds at The Canberra Hospital, patients still occasionally mistake Dr Viliunas for ‘the tea lady’. 

“For some people, the idea of a female anaesthetist is hard to get used to, despite the fact that 30% of Australian anaesthetists are women,” she says.

Dr Viliunas is not deeply bothered by the lack of recognition, but says experiences like this have left her fascinated by how people can fail to appreciate the truth of a matter even when it’s right in front of them. They’ve led her to sharpen her communication skills over the years. 

“I’m really interested in what influences people and how you get their attention, because so often in life you have a very short amount of time to get your message across, and misconceptions can be very deep-seated.”

“As a profession, it’s really important that we can communicate our value, particularly in the context of scope creep and workforce planning, and I’m glad I get the opportunity to do this through my professional roles.” 

Dr Viliunas is known to many doctors in Canberra for her profound influence as a supportive mentor and colleague, especially of female doctors. She is a member of the Australian Medical Association and the Medical Women’s Society, and is actively involved in both organisations.

“I grew up with a strong sense of the value of community, and I’ve carried that attitude into medicine with me,” Dr Viliunas says. “As a child of Lithuanian expats, there was never an option not to sing in the choir or dance in the dance group, and so it was a natural extension of my mindset to be actively involved in the medical community.”

Today, Dr Viliunas credits the strong medical community around her for helping her through challenging times in her career. “Any colleague is but a phone call away. You’re never alone.”

Dr Viliunas’s father was a flying doctor in Western Australia, and she grew a love for medicine while accompanying him on hospital and community visits. Her mother would have loved to do medicine, but sacrificed that dream to support her husband and children.

“When my turn to study medicine came, I had the opportunity my mother didn’t, but I had my own sacrifice to make too, which was deferring having children – with all the anxiety that came with that.

“Thankfully it’s now more practical for women to start a family while they’re training to be a doctor, but of course, there are still challenges.

 “Women have a different experience of medicine – that’s undeniable. We need to gather together, and be at the table, helping to chart the path forward.”