Ophthalmologist receives peak body?s highest honour

Glasson received the medal for what has described as his exceptional service to the AMA over many years, along with his ongoing long-term commitment to improving the eye health of Indigenous people. He was also AMA president from 2003–2005, at term that is be best rbered for his role in helping to achieve a solution to the long-running medical indnity crisis.{{image2-a:r-w:200}}Current AMA president Dr Michael Gannon, who nominated Glasson for the medal, said the distinguished ophthalmologist was one of a kind.“Bill was always a strong and passionate advocate for the AMA, the medical profession, the health syst, and patients throughout his time as president, at both state and national level,” Gannon said. “Bill’s leadership produced a very positive outcome for the profession and the Australian people, following many years of hard work by his predecessors, the AMA Federal Council, and the State and Territory AMAs. His hours, days, and weeks of tense negotiations with the then Health Minister Tony Abbott paid off. Bill and Tony survived those tough days, and rain close friends to this day.“Throughout his many crusades and causes, Bill Glasson has at all times worn his AMA hat. He is AMA, through and through. Bill Glasson is a champion, true blue, and one of a kind – a truly deserving recipient of the AMA Gold Medal,” Gannon added.Aside from his time as president of the AMA, Blasson has also served as president of RANZCO and he was the inaugural head of Cancer Australia. He was also appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2008.