MEDIA
STATEMENT
From the Chief Executive of the College, Karen Thomas
15 July 2005
New president for College of GPs
Dr Jonathan Fox is not likely to be all at sea leading the 3500 members of the College of GPs.
The Meadowbank (Auckland) GP took over today as president of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners from
Dr Jim Vause, who had completed his two-year term at today’s AGM of the College. The AGM is held during the annual
conference, this year at the Christchurch Convention Centre.
Dr Fox qualified at Guys Hospital, London in 1974. After house jobs at Guys he joined the Royal Navy and spent three
years on sea going duties as a Submarine Medical Officer before completing his General Practice Vocational Training with
a two-year tour in Hong Kong. He left the Navy with the rank of Surgeon Lt Commander.
One of his priorities will be forging effective and efficient relationships with other primary sector organisations.
“We also need to help DHBs understand the assistance quality primary care can provide, and to look at models of general
practice that work within the current private business environment.
“That model does not look like changing for a long time,” he said.
A member of the Auckland Faculty Board, Dr Fox joined the RNZCGP Council in 1998 and was appointed Deputy President in
2004.
He is a former School Doctor at Rugby School and has been in general practice in Auckland - with wife Judith - since
arriving from the UK in 1990. He has just finished his term as an elected member of the GP Council of the NZMA. A member
of the Competence Advisory Team of the Medical Council he is an Independent Advisor to the ACC Treatment Injury Unit.
Jonathan Fox has had a life long passion for quality general practice, poetry and playing the piano. That interest in
music is shared by new deputy president Dr David Whittet, who is currently researching a book on Beethoven’s medical
history.
Dr Whittet has represented RNZCGP at both national and international forums on rural general practice. He has practiced
for more than 10 years at Te Karaka, near Gisborne, and is the only GP on the 150km stretch of State Highway 2 between
Gisborne and Opotiki.
ENDS