Two new leaders for ANZCA and FPM
The Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) and its Faculty of Pain Medicine (FPM) have announced two key leadership appointments.
Dr Tanya Selak, a specialist anaesthetist from Wollongong, is the new president of ANZCA, having taken on the role today (Tuesday 5 May) at the ANZCA Annual Scientific Meeting in Auckland, a city where she was born, trained and began her anaesthesia career.
Professor Michael Veltman, a specialist pain medicine physician from Perth, is the new dean of the Faculty of Pain Medicine. His appointment was confirmed at the FPM Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Auckland on Sunday 3 May.
Dr Selak is the college’s first president from a regional centre. She is a strong advocate for equitable access to high-quality healthcare, including support for clinicians working in regional areas.
“Our patients and their families place extraordinary trust in us at some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives,” she says.
“As ANZCA President I look forward to continuing to contribute to strategic conversations about the future of healthcare in Australia and New Zealand.”
Professor Veltman, a procedural specialist pain medicine physician and anaesthetist, has extensive experience across perioperative medicine, acute pain services, and cardiac ultrasound (echocardiography). He has also worked extensively with CareFlight Western Australia, including undertaking numerous international medical retrievals.
He is a consultant pain physician at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth and Joondalup Health Campus, where he also serves as Director of Medical Services.
“As dean of the Faculty of Pain Medicine I am committed to strengthening pain medicine as a recognised and influential specialty and ensuring patients continue to have access to high-quality, safe, and patient-centred care,” Professor Veltman says.
Both appointments run for two years.
The Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA), including the Faculty of Pain Medicine and the Chapter of Perioperative Medicine, is one of the largest medical colleges in Australia and New Zealand. ANZCA is responsible for the postgraduate training of medical practitioners to become specialist anaesthetists and specialist pain medicine physicians.
