Brian Owler
Brian Kenneth Owler AM is an Australian neurosurgeon who was elected as president of the Australian Medical Association in May 2014. Prior to taking the presidency of the AMA, Owler was president of the AMA (NSW).[1]
In his campaign to attain the presidency of the AMA, Owler advocated for a co-payment for visits to general practitioners in order to gain the support of general practice for his presidency and to provide "windfall profits" for medical practitioners.[2] Following the strong opposition of the Australian Labor Party to the proposed changes to the remuneration of general practitioners, Owler publicly opposed the measures.[3]
Owler holds the position of Clinical Professor of Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital at Westmead Clinical School (also known as Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children), University of Sydney. He operates on paediatric and adult conditions in several Sydney hospitals, including Westmead Hospital, Sydney Adventist Hospital and Macquarie University Hospital.[4]
Owler is involved in several clinical studies including those on the topic of normal pressure hydrocephalus and deep brain stimulation surgery for the treatment of cerebral palsy. He has co-authored more than 40 academic papers.[5] He has also written several opinion pieces for leading Australian papers[6] and online media.[7]
Owler is a driving force and the face of the NSW 'Don't Rush' anti-speeding campaign,[8] and has appeared on billboards and in television ads warning of the risks and damage associated with road accidents. This advocacy arose from discussions with the relevant state minister while Owler was president of the NSW branch of the Australian Medical Association.[9]
In 2015, The Medical Journal of Australia removed professor Stephen Leeder, formerly the journal's editor-in-chief after he criticised the decision to outsource production of the journal to the global publishing giant Elsevier.[10] All but one of the AMJ's editorial advisory committee resigned following the decision to sack Leeder, and wrote to Owler asking him to review the decision.[11][12]
In May 2015 Owler criticised a Federal Government plan to assist Curtin University open a medical school for undergraduates, arguing that medical students struggle to find internships or specialist training places.[13][14]
In 2017 Owler chaired a Ministerial Advisory Panel that provided advice on the Victorian Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2017. The Bill was introduced into the Victorian Parliament on 20 September 2017.[15]
On 30 October 2018 he became the Australian Labor Party's candidate for the Sydney seat of Bennelong for the 2019 Australian federal election.[16] Owler was defeated in his attempt to win a seat in Federal Parliament.
See also[]
References[]
- ^ "A/Prof Brian Owler". Australian Medical Association. 2015-03-23. Retrieved 2019-05-14.
- ^ Grattan, Michelle. "Government dismisses AMA co-payment plan as 'windfall to doctors'". The Conversation. Retrieved 2019-05-14.
- ^ Lawson, Kirsten (2014-05-26). "New AMA president Brian Owler vows to pressure government on $7 co-payment". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2019-05-14.
- ^ Brian Owler. "Practice". Archived from the original on 2014-07-24. Retrieved 2014-10-20.
- ^ "Publications". Archived from the original on 2014-01-26. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
- ^ Brian Owler. "Children take fall for society's dithering". Retrieved 2014-02-01.
- ^ Brian Owler. "Will Ebola be the West's next big regret?". Retrieved 2014-02-01.
- ^ "Original Don't Rush". Roads & Maritime Services. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
- ^ "Sunday Profile: Brian Owler, Australian Medical Association president". ABC Radio National. Retrieved 2014-02-10.
- ^ "Backlash over decision by Australia's top medical journal to outsource to company with history of 'unethical' behaviour". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 1 May 2015.
- ^ "Medical journal editor sacked and editorial committee resigns". Sydney Morning Herald. 4 May 2015.
- ^ "Medical Journal of Australia will be shunned by researchers after editor sacked, academic says". The Guardian. 4 May 2015.
- ^ "Tony Abbott branded 'Captain Chaos' over medical school plan". Sydney Morning Herald. 17 May 2015.
- ^ "Joe Hockey fires back at the AMA's Brian Owler". Sydney Morning Herald. 17 May 2015.
- ^ "Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill". health.vic.gov.au. Archived from the original on 20 September 2017.
- ^ Hunter, Fergus (29 October 2018). "Former AMA chief Brian Owler to run for Labor in Bennelong at next election". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
- Australian neurosurgeons
- Living people
- Presidents of the Australian Medical Association
- Members of the Order of Australia