Rural Doctors Association of Tasmania (RDAT)

We are a member organisation representing the interests of rural doctors in Tasmania and working hard to ensure equitable access to quality and safe medical services for our rural communities. Our challenges are unique from the mainland, and it is important to ensure that rural issues are front and centre of policy development in Tasmania. Our work is supported by the team in RDAA and the work they do at a national level.

Our committee meets on the first Monday of every second month starting in March 2025 - contact us at [email protected] if you would like to get involved!

President

Dr Claire Griffiths

Claire is a proud palawa woman who grew up on the north-west coast of Tasmania. She trained with

the University of Tasmania, including at the Rural Clinical School, graduating in 2021 as award recipient

of the G. E. Clemons prize. In the following years Claire has dedicated herself to rural medicine working

across the North West Regional Hospital, Mersey Community Hospital, West Coast District hospital,

and general practice in Queenstown and Devonport under the Tasmanian Rural Generalist Pathway.  

Claire is now working as a rural generalist in Deloraine.

Formally commencing her rural generalist training in 2024 with the Australian College of Rural and

Remote Medicine (ACRRM), Claire spent twelve months working in her advanced skill in emergency

medicine at the North West Regional Hospital. She currently works in a mix of general practice in

Deloraine and in Emergency Medicine in the North West of Tasmania.

Claire advocates for doctors in training through her role with the Rural Doctors Association of Tasmania

(RDAT), mentoring medical students and junior doctors, and working with colleges training rural

generalists. When she is not working, Claire enjoys spending time with her family, playing rugby union,

and touch football.

Vice President

Dr Elizabeth Hargan

Elizabeth is an ACRRM registrar who now calls George Town home. Having grown up moving around the world, her fond memories of a few years near Goulburn, NSW, encouraged her to train in Bathurst, Port Macquarie and Katherine before completing internship in Wagga Wagga. 

Keen to complete her advanced skills in mental health, she has also undertaken additional work focussing on emergency medicine, palliative care and public education surrounding youth mental health. 

In her spare time, you'll find her reading, hanging with her cat Casimir or starting her latest house renovation project. 

Secretary

Dr Aaron Hawkins

Treasurer

Dr Angela Retchford

Dr. Angela Retchford is a rural practitioner with dual fellowship and a Diplomate with the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. She has special interests in obstetrics and gynaecology, skin cancer medicine and emergency medicine. Dr. Retchford is passionate about teaching, is a former examiner for RANZCOG, former tutor at the University of Tasmania School of Medicine and a current facilitator for CRANA+.

Committee Member

Professor Jan Radford

Jan Radford has practised as a general medical practitioner since 1986. She is Professor in General Practice at the University of Tasmania overseeing medical student learning and teaching at the Launceston Clinical School, especially in general practice. Jan is a rural generalist with a specific interest in mental health care. All students at the Launceston Clinical School undertake a 5-week placement in rural general practice. She is grateful to her rural GP colleagues for providing students with positive experiences and hopes this will develop students’ interest in rural practice in years to come.

Committee Member

Dr Alex John 

Doctor Alex is a Rural Generalist, originally hailing from 'Old' South Wales. Although he completed his medical degree, surgical training, and GP training in the UK, he sought better weather and worked for 16 years on Australian Islands: King Island, Norfolk Island, Flinders Island and Cape Barren Island. In 2023 he was awarded the inaugural Ochre Health National Doctor of the Year Award. He is also an Honorary Senior Lecturer for UTAS, actively engaged in teaching and learning from his students.

Alex now lives on Flinders Island and is a passionate advocate for better health equity for rural and remote Tasmanians. When Alex is not at work, he and his family can be found trying their hand at farming. Alex has come to realise that farming and rural medicine are not so different, both requiring a wholistic approach.

Committee Member

Dr Brian Treanor 

Originally hailing from Ireland, Brian trained as a Registered Nurse before moving to Tasmania in 1991 and working in both the community services sector and vocational education/training.  He started medicine at UTas in his late 30’s and trained as a Rural Generalist Anaesthetist, moving to Far North Queensland in 2016.  After working as the Director of Medical Services of Mareeba Hospital, he returned to Tasmania in 2024 to lead the Tasmanian Rural Generalist Pathway. 

As a committed lifelong learner, Brian’s is currently trying to teach himself Spanish as well as learning how to sail.

Committee Member

Dr Fiona Beer

Fiona a Rural Generalist (FRACGP-

RG) based in Tasmania, working across rural areas both locally and around Australia. She predominantly locum in rural emergency de

partments, hospitals, and GP clinics. When she's not working, she's on her farm just outside New Norfolk with my partner, dogs, chickens, bees, and sheep. She's actively involved in my community, particularly in protecting both the environment and public health. She's a member of the Rural Doctors Association of Tasmania (RDAT), the Australian Medical Association (AMA), and Safe Water Hobart.

Fiona is passionate about environmental health, having served as the Chair of Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA) in Tasmania, and she has completed both Al Gore’s Climate Reality Training and the Tasmanian Leaders Program. Her driving passion is to deliver excellent rural healthcare, teach the next generation of rural clinicians, and advocate for a fairer, more equitable world.

Committee Member

Dr Ben Dodds 

Dr Ben Dodds is a Rural Generalist working in the North of the state. He is currently the Year 1 and 2 lead at the Launceston Clinical School’s end to end medical training program. He works clinically in Deloraine supporting the General Practice, District Hospital and supervising trainees. He is also a medical educator with ACRRM.

Ben grew up in NW Tasmania and is passionate about improving rural and remote health outcomes by supporting rural doctors.   

Ben is also a Board Member of the Rural Doctors Association of Australia, representing rural doctors on Commonwealth issues. Ben sits on a variety of committees including:
Commonwealth Medical Workforce Advisory Collaborative Committee
Commonwealth Strengthening Medicare Implementation Oversight Committee
Tasmanian General Practice Forum
Tasmanian Health Senate Steering Committee
Tasmanian Rural Generalist Collaborative
WorkCover Medical Advisory Committee