Dr Ramya Raman

What has motivated you to nominate for President?

I am standing for RACGP President because our College needs leadership that understands general practice from the ground up and is prepared to act decisively.

Our profession is being fragmented by disconnected care, scope expansion and policies that undervalue continuity and specialist GP-led care. Too much of our clinical judgement, coordination, follow-up and responsibility remains unseen and inadequately funded.

As a specialist GP, practice owner, educator, advocate and RACGP Board director, I understand how underfunding, rising costs and administrative burden affect GPs, GPiTs and the future workforce.

I am standing to protect general practice, strengthen training and Fellowship pathways, support registrars and supervisors, and sharpen the College’s influence. I will stand by you and fight for the respect and value our profession deserves.

What is one thing you believe the College needs to do differently going forward?

The College needs to become more responsive, decisive and influential; both in defending our profession and supporting the next generation of GPs.

That means listening earlier, acting faster and advocating strategically when policies threaten continuity, sustainability or specialist GP-led care. It also means making the journey to Fellowship simpler, more flexible and more supportive.

Registrars should not be weighed down by unnecessary administration, inconsistent processes or delays when problems arise. The College must provide clearer guidance, faster resolution pathways and greater consistency across training regions, while supporting employment arrangements that protect wellbeing and career progression.

If we want more doctors to choose general practice, they must see a respected, sustainable profession backed by a College prepared to act.

What do you see as the key issues impacting the future GP/RG workforce?

The key challenge is making general practice and rural generalism attractive in an increasingly underfunded and fragmented health system.

Future GPs are weighing underfunding, fragmented care, training pressures, administrative burden and career uncertainty, alongside housing, childcare and the realities of building a life in rural and remote communities.

IMG colleagues are an essential part of our workforce. I will call for government funding for the FSP and PEP Specialist pathways, alongside supportive routes to Fellowship.

My perspective comes from working closely with rural general practice, employing registrars and speaking directly with many GPs in training as an experienced faculty chair. If elected President, I will continue to advocate for fair conditions for GPs in training so they feel supported, can build sustainable careers and remain in the communities they wish to practice. 

What advice would you give a future GP/RG?

Choose a career in general practice that fits the life you want to build.

General practice offers extraordinary variety, flexibility and the opportunity to shape your work across clinical care, teaching, leadership, research, procedural practice or rural generalism.

Seek mentors who will support both your professional growth and your wellbeing. Set boundaries early, choose workplaces that respect your time and remember that sustainability is part of being a good doctor.

Your career will evolve as your interests, family and priorities change. Give yourself permission to adapt. Protect and prioritise your wellbeing, value your skills and build a career that allows you to contribute meaningfully without losing the life outside medicine.

Do you have any hidden talents we should know about?

I love music and dance and painting (watercolours). I have found they can break down barriers in ways conversation alone sometimes cannot. They have helped me connect with people across cultures, professions and communities, often in completely unexpected ways.

Some of those connections have lasted for years and later opened the door to friendship, collaboration and mutual support. It has taught me that relationships are often built in the moments when people relax, share something joyful and see each other beyond their professional roles.

What is one book you would recommend we all read?

I would recommend Dr. Ida: The Story of Dr. Ida Scudder of Vellore by Dorothy Clarke Wilson.

Dr Scudder responded to a profound unmet need for women’s healthcare and went on to build a clinic, hospital and medical school. Her story demonstrates what can be achieved through service, courage and persistence, even when the challenge initially appears overwhelming.

What stays with me is that she did more than treat the patients in front of her. She built lasting systems, trained future doctors and created opportunities for women. It is a powerful reminder that one person’s purpose can improve healthcare for generations.

If elected as RACGP President, how will you collaborate and work with GPRA?

I will work with GPRA as a genuine partner in decisions affecting GPs in training and our profession. I served as a Registrar Liaison Officer during my own training, so I understand firsthand the strength of GPRA’s advocacy and its vital role in supporting and representing registrars.

I would establish regular engagement with GPRA leaders and GPs in training, with clear pathways for concerns to reach the RACGP Board, advocacy teams and training leadership. Our shared priorities should include flexibility and autonomy, fair employment conditions, training costs, wellbeing, supervision quality, rural pathways and reduced administrative burden.

Where our objectives align, I would pursue joint advocacy to government. The future workforce must be shaped by GPs in training, not around them.