West Moreton Health’s new and first Chief Medical Officer, Dr Deepak Doshi, sees his role as a chance to provide medical leadership while continuing to practise as a clinician.

“West Moreton is one of the fastest growing regions in Queensland. I hope to make a difference by supporting patient care closer to home,” he said.

West Moreton Health Chief Executive Dr Kerrie Freeman said Dr Doshi’s appointment was exciting news for the community.

“As our most senior doctor, Dr Doshi will lead our efforts to provide safe, quality health services to the community and he will mentor and support all our doctors,” she said.

“His role will have a distinctly West Moreton touch in that it will be patient-focused, with Dr Doshi having a clinical workload as part of his duties. His working week will take him from the bedside to the executive table, which will mean our major clinical decisions will always include the staff and patient point of view,” she said.

Dr Doshi said he had a vision to provide the best possible patient care while leading Ipswich Hospital towards tertiary level health services as part of West Moreton Health’s 15-year Master Plan.

Dr Doshi, who trained in India, the UK and Australia, is an Associate Professor in the School of Medicine at Griffith University. He has a broad range of skills, including specialising in emergency and paediatric emergency medicine, and is also a trained General Practitioner.

He has extensive research and general medical administration experience and has managed rural, regional and metropolitan health services.

“Providing strong leadership, using contemporary practices, creating linkages with tertiary hospitals, supporting exchange and education programs, working with clinicians and allowing for flexibility are all important aspects of better patient care,” Dr Doshi said.

Prior to joining West Moreton Health, Dr Doshi worked as Deputy Executive Director at Central Queensland Hospital and Health Services, Director of Medical services at Roma Hospital and Director of the Emergency Department at Campbell Hospital in New South Wales.

He plans to develop strong partnerships with primary healthcare networks, Indigenous health and mental health services in the region.

Dr Doshi said he would work closely with universities to develop research programs and provide excellence in education to doctors in training and medical students.

He said he is looking forward to supporting all West Moreton Health’s facilities, including rural hospitals at Laidley, Esk, Gatton and Boonah.

“I have worked in remote and rural areas, so I understand the challenges faced by the rural communities and staff,” he said.