APHA President honoured in King's List

Toowong Private Hospital CEO Christine Gee has been recognised as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2023 King's Birthday Honours List.

Ms Gee, who is also President of the Australian Private Hospitals Association (APHA), said she was "extremely honoured" by the award, which she credited as a shared achievement with her staff at the Queensland facility.

"The team at Toowong Private Hospital is one of the finest you will find in any hospital anywhere," she said.

"Their dedication and commitment to providing our patients with the best possible psychiatric care is outstanding and something I have great pride and admiration in.

"I feel very privileged and grateful for the opportunities and career I have had over many years and to receive this acknowledgement is the icing on the cake."

APHA CEO Michael Roff said Ms Gee had been a "force" in the hospital sector and was driven to improve Australians' experience of healthcare.

"Her strategic thinking, teamed with her immense intellect and charm, have seen her effect real change in safety and quality practices in Australian healthcare and we all owe her a debt of gratitude for her efforts," he said.

"Christine continues to be a strong and passionate advocate for private hospitals and the high-quality care delivered by the sector to millions of Australians every year.

"She has selflessly committed time, energy and her considerable leadership skills to represent private hospitals over a sustained period of time and is truly deserving of this recognition."

Ms Gee is also President of the Private Hospitals Association, Queensland and a board member of the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, and the Queensland Medical Board.

She chairs the Medical Board of Australia's National Special Issues Committee.

During her career, Ms Gee has received various accolades including a Centenary Medal for Distinguished Service to the Health Industry; an APHA Individual Achievement Award for her contribution to the viability, growth, quality and achievements of the private hospital sector, a Baxter Healthcare and Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS) Long Standing Service to Quality in Australian Healthcare Award, and in 2021 was awarded the ACHS Gold Medal in recognition of her outstanding individual contribution to improving quality and safety in Australian Health Services.

Ms Gee's long career in hospital management is made even more remarkable considering she suffers from nosocomephobia – a fear of hospitals.

She says the condition may have helped her become a better hospital CEO and put her focus on providing high-quality care to patients.

"A real highlight in my career is knowing that I have contributed to a patient getting the care and services they need and that they have experienced as positive a time in hospital that they can," Ms Gee said.

"Maybe my own experiences of being panicked whilst a hospital patient gives me that little extra empathy for people at their most vulnerable.''

Ms Gee said her work in safety and quality had emerged from a personal and career-long held philosophy of patient-centred care.

"Put the patient or consumer at the centre of everything," she said.

"My personal philosophy has always put people at the centre of care, and I think that is reflected in my work.

"My belief that ensuring and protecting the best interests of a person will achieve significant improvements in the system – from efficiency through to effectiveness – has guided my work in both quality and safety and in general."

Hollywood Private Hospital's Dr David Blacker was also awarded an AM in the general division, for significant service to medicine and neurological research, along with Ramsay Health Care colleagues Emeritus Professor Philip Boyce (Northside Clinic), Professor Michael Tonkin (North Shore Private Hospital) and Dr Robert Whitby (Greenslopes Private Hospital).

Dr Brett O'Donnell of Ramsay's Castlecrag Private Hospital was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his services to ophthalmology.

Royal Rehab Group Director Jane Spring was recognised with an AM for her service to disability advocacy in sport and public sector administration.

Bethesda Health Care Board Director and former Western Australia Premier Colin Barnett was appointed Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) for his service to the state.

Read more: APHA's historic new leadership team

Read more: ACHS Gold Medal honour for Toowong Private CEO

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