Dr Amanda Baric awarded Robert Orton Medal
Dr Amanda Baric has been awarded the Robert Orton Medal, the highest award the Faculty of Anaesthetists at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons can bestow upon its fellows. The Robert Orton medal was established in 1967 to recognise distinguished service to anaesthesia, perioperative medicine and/or pain medicine. This award recognises outstanding contributions to the profession outside of a clinical setting that sets the recipient apart from their colleagues.
Dr Amanda Baric from the Department of Medical Education and the Department of Critical Care.
Dr Baric is a Senior Lecturer with dual affiliations with the Department of Medical Education and the Department of Critical Care. She has taught medical students at the Northern Clinical School for over 14 years, coordinating their anaesthesia placements, teaching clinical skills, and facilitating clinical deterioration simulation and pain management teaching. She has also supervised medical student research projects and provided important mentorship. Students greatly admire Dr Baric’s passion for her discipline and dedication to their learning, reflected by multiple nominations for teaching awards. Dr Baric enjoys being part of a student’s learning journey and seeing them return one day as a colleague.
Dr Baric is one of the Deputy Directors of the Department of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine at Northern Health, having worked there for over 20 years. She enjoys the opportunity to learn about how other people work to provide anaesthesia and perioperative care around the world. Her motivation to commit to continuing education and training of anaesthetists and other health professionals came about when she realised that access to good training programs in the real world were limited and poorly resourced. One of her greatest achievements has been to establish a training program in Mongolia for medical anaesthetists with her colleagues from Northern Health and to implement a continuing education program. She facilitated the expansion of emergency medicine training and engaged with gynaecology colleagues to provide better maternity care in Mongolia. The Mongolian Government recognised her outstanding contributions by awarding her the Order of the Polar Star, the highest civilian honour it can confer.