AMA SA Councillors
The council is responsible for:
- determining questions and matters of policy for the association;
- making by-laws about ethical considerations (including handling complaints related to the profession); and
- making recommendations to the Board of Directors about representing the association on all matters of policy with government or other stakeholders.
If you wish to get in contact with the AMA SA council please email Alex Brown, abrown@amasa.org.au or phone 08 8361 0109.
Office Bearers
Peter Subramaniam is a Senior Consultant Vascular Surgeon with over two decades of service at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the Royal Adelaide Hospital , with his private hospital practice being based at Calvary Adelaide and Ashford. He is a graduate (MBBS )from the University of Melbourne and subsequently completed a General Surgical Fellowship at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and a Fellowship in Vascular Surgery at the Alfred and Austin Hospitals in Melbourne, and the Royal Brisbane Hospital in Queensland.
He is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, as well as completing a Surgical Leadership Program from Harvard . He is an Associate Fellow of the Royal Australian College of Medical Administrators.
He is an Associate Professor at the University of Adelaide and has convened and chaired the Board of the Adelaide Vascular Trials( AVT) since its establishment in 2001. Peter served for 9 years (2010 to 2019) on the Board of Vascular Studies of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons, which has a pivotal role in overseeing the binational vascular surgery training program, including selection, training credentialing, and curriculum setting.
His professional contributions include serving as the President of the Australian and New Zealand Society for Vascular Surgery (2020-2022) and the World Federation of Vascular Societies (2021). Peter is involved in initiatives to enhance cost efficiency and clinical decision-making in the South Australian healthcare system, in his role as Medical Lead Surgery Stream 2 (Director of Surgery) at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. He served as Chair of the Clinical Council of the Central Adelaide Local Healthcare Network (CALHN) from 2022 to the end of 2024 and during that time, served on the Board of CALHN as the senior medical observer. He is the President of AMA SA and served as Chair of the SA Branch of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons between 2012-2014.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Peter served as an advisor to the South Australian government on elective surgical restrictions and continues to serve on the State Elective Surgery Steering Committee. He is on the Steering Committee of the Australian Ethical Healthcare Alliance and chaired the Clinical Committee on Vascular and Endovascular Procedures during the Medicare Benefits Schedule Review (2017-2019).
This year he was appointed Adjunct Associate Professor at the Flinders University College of Medicine and Public Health where he teaches at the Rural Medical School in the Riverland where he has been providing a visiting consulting service since 2001.
He is a founder partner of Adelaide Vascular.
Dr Louis Papilion completed his medical degree at the University of Adelaide, followed by specialist training in Anaesthesia. He subsequently worked as a Staff Specialist at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital until 2023, when he transitioned to full-time private practice with Stace Anaesthetists.
Dr Papilion provides anaesthetic services across all metropolitan private hospitals and has a particular clinical interest in anaesthesia for upper gastrointestinal procedures, including bariatric surgery.
He joined the Council in 2022 to contribute to advocacy efforts aimed at improving working conditions and wellbeing for doctors, as well as to support reforms that enhance the delivery of care within both the public and private healthcare sectors.
Dr Karen Koh is the Chair of AMA SA Council.
Born, raised and educated in Adelaide, South Australia, Dr Karen Koh attended the University of Adelaide, School of Medicine, graduating in 1995. Thereafter she undertook further training as a medical officer in various departments at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, including working in general medicine, emergency medicine and sexual health. She also was involved in skin research projects at the Flinders University.
Dr Koh was accepted into the specialist dermatology training programme in 2001. During her first year she worked in Darwin, N.T. where her focus included research into fungal infections in Aboriginal communities of the Top End. The findings from this research contributed to changes in the way such infections are treated across Australia in indigenous groups.
After completing her training in Adelaide, and being accepted as a Fellow of the Australasian College of Dermatologists (ACD) in 2005, Dr Koh commenced private practice. She has served on various committees for the ACD, including trainee doctor national selection, scientific meetings, medical ethics, national examinations and international medical graduate speciality recognition assessment. She has been the Secretary and the Chairman of the S.A. Faculty of the ACD.
Dr Koh is a visiting dermatologist at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and Women’s & Children’s Hospital, where she supervises doctors training in dermatology. She also participates in medical student teaching for the University of Adelaide and is a senior Clinical Lecturer. She regularly gives lectures for students for pre-intern preparation and general practitioners about skin conditions.
Aside from her busy practice, Dr Koh is a keen amateur photographer and traveller.
Federal AMA Councillors
Dr John Williams is a general practitioner practising in Port Lincoln. In addition to the usual GP duties, John has a special interest in skin cancer diagnosis and treatment. He helps at the Port Lincoln Hospital's emergency department and attends to inpatients.
John graduated from Adelaide University in 1993. This was followed by some time in paediatrics at the Women's and Children's Hospital, obstetrics at Flinders Medical Centre and general practice in rural and city locations.
He has also spent time in hospitals (plastics and emergency) and general practice in the UK.
Outside medicine John has studied jazz music at the Elder Conservatorium and continues to perform locally and compose for short films. Family life with his wife and daughter is central to John.
Dr Clair Pridmore is a paediatric neurologist, currently employed as a Staff Specialist at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital (WCH). She did her basic training at the WCH and most of her advanced training overseas, at the Hospitals for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street, London; the Institute of Child Health, London; and the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto. She feels the clinical and life experience gained working overseas in these centres of excellence, in big cosmopolitan cities, has proved invaluable.
Clair is committed to providing high-quality health services for children and teens in South Australia and has worked hard to improve services for children with neurological disorders. She has a special interest in children and families living with epilepsy and continues to work to improve outcomes for this group of patients.
She is well aware of the inequity existing in the delivery of health services for children in this state and the Northern Territory (NT). Those who live in rural and regional South Australia and NT are clearly disadvantaged, particularly Indigenous children. Clair would value the opportunity to help address this disparity.
Clair has a research interest in the genetics of epilepsy. Her interests outside medicine include music (piano), masters rowing, bushwalking, tennis and bridge.
Doctor Edward (Ted) Mah is the Professor of the College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University of SA and Head of Orthopaedics at Northern Adelaide Local Health Network (NALHN). He is the Director at North Adelaide Specialist Centre to provide specialised service in Hand and Microsurgery, as well as Elbow and Shoulder reconstruction surgery.
In a career spanning for more than 30 years, Dr Edward (Ted) Mah has worked tirelessly with and for the orthopaedic community both locally and internationally.
Dr Szewczyk is the Chair of AMA SA Council.
She is a RANZCOG trainee and a Federal AMA Councillor. Following a term as Chair of the AMA(SA) Doctors in Training (DiTs) Committee, she is Chair of the (federal) AMA Council of Doctors in Training in 2023.
Dr Szewczyk says she became involved with the AMA because she wanted to advocate for improved conditions for junior doctors, especially prevocational doctors. This includes campaigning for initiatives to improve wellbeing and flexibility in work and training, and more DiT representation on decision-making boards and committees.
Ordinary Members
After graduating as MBBS from the Tamilnadu Dr MGR Medical University in Madras (Chennai) in 2000, Krish attained Fellowship of the College of Physicians and Surgeons (FCPS) and a Doctorate in Medicine (MD) in Anaesthesiology in India in 2005.
Highlights of his career include being awarded the gold medal in the Fellowship in Anaesthesiology (FCPS) and winning the B Braun International Scholarship for Scientific and Academic Excellence in Anaesthesiology, both in 2005; and attaining the European Diploma in Intensive Care Medicine in 2010, Fellowships of the College of Intensive Care Medicine (FCICM) in 2009, and the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators (FRACMA) and the Australasian College of Health Service Management (FACHSM) in 2019.
The thesis topic for his Master’s in Public Health related to responding to COVID-19 in a quaternary referral centre and the interface with public health. He also has post-graduate qualifications in clinical ultrasound, critical care echo, health service management, health administration and higher education.
Krish joined the full-time staff of the Royal Adelaide Hospital’s intensive care unit in 2010 and was appointed head of the unit in 2020.
Dr. Vikas Jasoria is a specialist general practitioner (GP) based in Adelaide. He trained in the UK at Imperial College in London and is qualified in both medicine and management. He has an international background having been brought up in Hong Kong and with Indian heritage.
Vik is currently director of the Arkaba Medical Centre in Parkside and its related entities Dermadocs Skin Cancer Clinic and Adelaide Health Suites. He is also director of the Hughes Medical Clinic in Unley and Craigmore Family Practice. He is passionate about primary care and the medical profession. He has served on the Adelaide Northern Division of General Practice and on the boards of the Adelaide PHN and Northern Adelaide Medicare Local.
With experience in youth mental health and Aboriginal health, Vik continues to be a coal-face GP serving his community.
Associate Professor William Tam obtained his medical qualifications from the University of Adelaide in 1993, and became a gastroenterologist and Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians in 2000.
His PhD thesis on reflux disease and Barrett’s oesophagus provided opportunities to learn advanced endoscopic techniques in Tokyo and Amsterdam. He consolidated his endoscopic training with a post-doctoral fellowship at the Middlesex Hospital in London in 2003, a position which also entailed honorary lectureship at the University of London.
On his return to Adelaide in 2004, Associate Professor Tam was appointed to key positions at both the Lyell McEwin Hospital and Royal Adelaide Hospital.
He is currently State Reference Member for the Australian National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, committee member of the Australian Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Association, and is chair-elect of the Australian Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Association.
He became a state councillor for AMA(SA) in 2012, and also joined the AMA(SA) Executive Board in 2012.
A/Prof Tam is actively involved in clinical research, teaching and endoscopic training and has participated in the World Gastroenterology Organisation sponsored teaching program in Fiji. In 2012, he was awarded honorary professorship at the Beijing PLA General Military Hospital. He is also a past-president of the Australasian Council of Chinese Medical Associations (Australia and New Zealand).
Dr Bridget Sawyer completed her training in general practice in the UK in 1987, after time spent working in rural New Zealand.
She moved to Australia in 1990 taking up a role with the Royal Flying Doctor Service based in Broken Hill, NSW.
After two years of working in a fascinating job and appreciating the Australian bush, she moved to Adelaide, initially working primarily as a GP until establishing her sports medicine practice.
She is a member of SA – Sports Medicine Association and was president from 2011 to 2013.
She has worked with elite athletes in netball and basketball, both domestic and international competition, as well as with the Australian Paralympic Committee.
She was also part of the Australian team for the Rio Paralympics which she found a valuable and rewarding experience.
Her current clinical role is with The International Spine Centre. She continues to work as a GP with a musculoskeletal focus.
Dr Emily Kirkpatrick is an Adelaide-based specialist general practitioner (GP) with additional qualifications in public health, preventative health (skin cancer research and screening), medical education and medical administration. Emily is now the Executive Medical Director of the Calvary Medibank Joint Venture, which has provided care through a NSQHS-accredited virtual hospital to more than 200,000 patients across Australia.
As a former Deputy Chief Public Health Officer and Deputy Chief Medical Officer, COVID Community Commander, and Executive Director of Community and Primary Care Partnerships at South Australia’s Department for Health and Wellbeing, Emily has been a passionate advocate for reform of the Australian health system.
With expertise and significant executive experience in virtual health care systems and clinical governance, she brings to the AMA SA Council unique perspectives on whole-of-system and integrated care.
Specialty Group Representatives
Doctor Edward (Ted) Mah is the Professor of the College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University of SA and Head of Orthopaedics at Northern Adelaide Local Health Network (NALHN). He is the Director at North Adelaide Specialist Centre to provide specialised service in Hand and Microsurgery, as well as Elbow and Shoulder reconstruction surgery.
In a career spanning for more than 30 years, Dr Edward (Ted) Mah has worked tirelessly with and for the orthopaedic community both locally and internationally.
Born, raised and educated in Adelaide, South Australia, Dr Karen Koh attended the University of Adelaide, School of Medicine, graduating in 1995. Thereafter she undertook further training as a medical officer in various departments at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, including working in general medicine, emergency medicine and sexual health. She also was involved in skin research projects at the Flinders University.
Dr Koh was accepted into the specialist dermatology training programme in 2001. During her first year she worked in Darwin, N.T. where her focus included research into fungal infections in Aboriginal communities of the Top End. The findings from this research contributed to changes in the way such infections are treated across Australia in indigenous groups.
After completing her training in Adelaide, and being accepted as a Fellow of the Australasian College of Dermatologists (ACD) in 2005, Dr Koh commenced private practice. She has served on various committees for the ACD, including trainee doctor national selection, scientific meetings, medical ethics, national examinations and international medical graduate speciality recognition assessment. She has been the Secretary and the Chairman of the S.A. Faculty of the ACD.
Dr Koh is a visiting dermatologist at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and Women’s & Children’s Hospital, where she supervises doctors training in dermatology. She also participates in medical student teaching for the University of Adelaide and is a senior Clinical Lecturer. She regularly gives lectures for students for pre-intern preparation and general practitioners about skin conditions.
Aside from her busy practice, Dr Koh is a keen amateur photographer and traveller.
Dr Cathrin Parsch is an emergency physician working as a staff specialist at the Lyell Mc Ewin Hospital and SAAS MedSTAR in SA. In addition, she also holds the role of a visiting consultant with the Central Australian Medical Retrieval and Coordination Centre (MRaCC) at the Alice Springs Hospital in the Northern Territory.
She graduated in Germany and came to Australia in 1997. Her special clinical interests include mental health, paediatrics, aboriginal health and point of care ultrasound. Cathrin has a long-standing involvement in patient safety and clinical governance across her workplaces. The challenges to provide safe patient care in the current environment led to her interest in becoming a member of the AMA SA Council.
Cathrin is a Course Director and member of the Course Development Committee for Advanced Paediatric life Support (APLS) and an instructor for Emergency Trauma Management (ETM) and Emergency Management of Severe Burns (EMSB).
She has a 22-year-old son in Melbourne (of late mostly in lockdown) and a 20-year-old daughter in Sydney. Unfortunately, Cathrin does not see them often enough now but her horses and dogs keep her entertained.
Dr Hayden Cain is an Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) trainee working in the Riverland.
After growing up in Adelaide Hayden moved to Melbourne to complete his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (Honours) and Honours Degree of Bachelor of Medical Science at Monash University. He completed his internship in Echuca before moving to Darwin and then back to Adelaide to pursue a career in orthopaedics.
However, his experiences in Darwin and Echuca ignited a passion for advocacy and a desire to live and work rurally, and he decided to become a rural generalist.
Hayden has become increasingly involved in advocacy roles with a specific focus on doctors in training, rural health, and the progression of doctors in training through their careers. He is the Chair of AMA SA Doctors in Training, Chair of the Federal AMA Council of Doctors in Training Prevocational Special Interest Group and member of the National Medical Workforce Strategy Service Registrar Special Interest Group.
Dr Chris Dobbins is a general surgeon who currently works as a staff specialist at the Royal Adelaide Hospital as well as consulting in Port Augusta and Whyalla Hospital. He graduated from the University of Adelaide in 2000 and completed his fellowship with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in 2012. He has interests in rural surgery, trauma and emergency surgery and has been heavily involved in the training of junior surgeons through various roles within General Surgeons Australia and RACS.
Dr Rajaram Ramadoss is a consultant and deputy director in the intensive care unit at Lyell McEwin Hospital. He is a consultant in intensive care at Calvary North Adelaide and Western hospitals and a clinical senior lecturer at the University of Adelaide.
Other Groups
Dr Keane is an Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) registrar who was one of the first interns to benefit from the Riverland Academy of Clinical Excellence (RACE) program and its single employer model. She is the South Australian representative on the (federal) AMA Council of Rural Doctors.
Dr Alice Fitzpatrick is a GP registrar practising in Port Lincoln who graduated from the University of Notre Dame in Fremantle. Spending extensive periods in the Kimberly region of WA inspired in her a passion for rural and Aboriginal health, and she also has a special interest in women’s health.
