Jean Hailes Medical Director Dr Elizabeth Farrell AM was among a group of Australian medical specialists honoured last month in Mongolia for their work in improving women's healthcare in the North-East Asian nation.
Dr Farrell was awarded a visiting Professorship from the Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, while four other members of the group – Dr Kym Jansen, Dr Emma Readman, Dr Samantha Hargreaves, and Dr Philip Popham – were awarded the Mongolian Silver Friendship Medal (Nairamdal) by Mongolian President, Khaltmaagiin Buttulga.
Two nurses in the Australian group, Shanez Sinnathamby and Kate Batchelor, were also awarded medals by the Ministry of Health.
The doctors have been visiting Mongolia annually for the past 10 years, with Dr Jansen the first of the group to begin the annual trips. Initially focusing on promoting minimally invasive gynaecological surgery, they recently expanded their work to encompass all aspects of women's health, including anaesthetic care. The affiliation has seen rapid advances in surgical, anaesthetic, and obstetric care.
In the past two years, the Epworth Foundation has expanded this project by funding three-month scholarships for two doctors from Mongolia to visit Australia annually.
The group has recently formed the Mongolian Australian Medical Affiliation (MAMA), Women's Health, and plan to continue their collaboration.
Dr Farrell became enchanted with Mongolia on her first trip there in 2009, when she visited her daughter who was doing volunteer work there.
"I just loved the place, I thought it was so quirky," Dr Farrell said.
She was inspired to return to Mongolia in 2013 as part of the Australian medical team, after hearing Dr Readman's stories of her trips there.
Dr Farrell has now been back to Mongolia with the medical team every year since, with her July trip marking her seventh visit to the country.
"I love the people and I love going there," Dr Farrell said. "And I love the friendships, we've got really lovely friendships there now. And the joy the people get out of us going and giving them our time and experience is so appreciated."
Jean Hailes Medical Director Dr Elizabeth Farrell AM was among a group of Australian medical specialists honoured last month in Mongolia for their work in improving women's healthcare in the North-East Asian nation.
Dr Farrell was awarded a visiting Professorship from the Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, while four other members of the group – Dr Kym Jansen, Dr Emma Readman, Dr Samantha Hargreaves, and Dr Philip Popham – were awarded the Mongolian Silver Friendship Medal (Nairamdal) by Mongolian President, Khaltmaagiin Buttulga.
Two nurses in the Australian group, Shanez Sinnathamby and Kate Batchelor, were also awarded medals by the Ministry of Health.
The doctors have been visiting Mongolia annually for the past 10 years, with Dr Jansen the first of the group to begin the annual trips. Initially focusing on promoting minimally invasive gynaecological surgery, they recently expanded their work to encompass all aspects of women's health, including anaesthetic care. The affiliation has seen rapid advances in surgical, anaesthetic, and obstetric care.
In the past two years, the Epworth Foundation has expanded this project by funding three-month scholarships for two doctors from Mongolia to visit Australia annually.
The group has recently formed the Mongolian Australian Medical Affiliation (MAMA), Women's Health, and plan to continue their collaboration.
Dr Farrell became enchanted with Mongolia on her first trip there in 2009, when she visited her daughter who was doing volunteer work there.
"I just loved the place, I thought it was so quirky," Dr Farrell said.
She was inspired to return to Mongolia in 2013 as part of the Australian medical team, after hearing Dr Readman's stories of her trips there.
Dr Farrell has now been back to Mongolia with the medical team every year since, with her July trip marking her seventh visit to the country.
"I love the people and I love going there," Dr Farrell said. "And I love the friendships, we've got really lovely friendships there now. And the joy the people get out of us going and giving them our time and experience is so appreciated."
Dr Farrell will return in October for the Mongolian Menopause & Andropause Society conference.
